The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has criticised the government for failing to provide clarity on its much-touted 24-Hour Economy policy in the 2026 Budget Statement.

According to him, despite earlier promises that the initiative would create massive employment opportunities for Ghanaians, the budget presented by the Minister for Finance made no mention of it.

His remarks came shortly after the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, presented the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in Parliament. The finance minister had noted that the government is targeting total revenue and grants of GH¢268.1 billion for 2026 — an 18.3 percent increase over the GH¢226.7 billion projected for 2025.

He also said the government aims to create up to 800,000 new jobs across various sectors next year. Ato Forson also announced that the government will allocate GH¢110 million in 2026 to implement the 24-Hour Economy Programme as part of efforts to boost productivity, exports, and job creation nationwide.

However, reacting to the statement, Mr. Afenyo-Markin questioned the government’s commitment to its own flagship policy.

“When Ghanaians voted for the NDC, they said they were bringing them jobs. They said they would do this through their flagship 24-Hour Economy — one job running three shifts to provide three jobs.

“Go to Ga Mashie and other places; the youth there are asking where the jobs are or the 24-Hour Economy. But the budget didn’t even mention it. Yet you have MPs singing about a policy they cannot even see,” he said.