The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Mr. Abraham Koomson, has urged the government to place Agriculture and Manufacturing at the centre of the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Programme, arguing that these sectors hold the key to Ghana’s economic recovery and job creation.

Mr. Koomson praised the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy initiative as bold and timely, but warned that its impact would be limited unless production-driven sectors are prioritised.

“I believe the 24-Hour Economy initiative can work,” he said.

“But for it to truly drive transformation, we must put our energy into Agriculture and Manufacturing.

These are the sectors that can revive the economy.”

While welcoming efforts to extend operational hours in institutions like the Passport Office and various ministries, the GFL leader stressed that sustainable economic transformation requires a shift in focus from service delivery to production.

“Yes, offices can operate around the clock, but that alone won’t fix the economy,” he explained.

“If we’re serious about transformation, the focus must be on farming and factories—on producing, processing, and exporting.”

Mr. Koomson proposed the concepts of “Grow24” and “Manufacture24” as central themes of the policy, where round-the-clock activities in agriculture and manufacturing would lead to real growth, higher exports, and reduced dependency on imports.

He reaffirmed the Ghana Federation of Labour’s readiness to work with the government in refining and implementing the policy to ensure it delivers tangible results for workers and the wider population.

“We will keep reminding the government of what needs to be done,” he said.

“As a federation, we’re proud that our input was reflected in the NDC’s manifesto.

That gives us hope that the right things will be done.”

Mr. Koomson said the labour movement remains optimistic that, with adequate support for the right sectors, Ghana’s economy can recover and thrive.

He concluded with a direct call to policymakers and stakeholders to align the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Programme with the sectors most capable of generating jobs, wealth, and long-term national prosperity.

“If Agriculture and Manufacturing are properly supported, Ghana’s economy can bounce back stronger,” he said.

He made this call while speaking on Ahotor FM on Saturday.