Special aide to former President John Dramani Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, has described the 24-economy policy as a game changer for better-paying jobs.
The private legal practitioner noted in a piece that the policy is not a utopian concept but an idea that will create more jobs and create more sustainable employment if well implemented.
The policy she noted will generate growth in a difficult economic environment.
The policy, among other things, will help deal with corruption and waste in the system.
“So much money goes to waste, same can be saved for example the $58 million dollars expended on the National Cathedral, 11.9 million dollars spent on the nonexistent Pwalugu Dam, the $12 million dollars PDS wasted expenditures can all be recovered and would be used to create incentives for the private sector and support the government wage bill.”
Read her opinion piece below
The John Mahama 24 hour economy is not a utopian concept but rather an idea that has the potential if implemented effectively and with governments support will deliver better paying jobs, more employment, better opportunities, create more sustainable employment opportunities and generate growth in a difficult economic environment.
In my humble opinion this profoundly important policy will create the following to ensure that we all build the Ghana we want together with the Incoming John Mahama administration
1.Introduce Three shifts where possible.
2.Both in the private and public, formal,semi formal and informal sectors
3.Public Sector agencies such as the audit service which has been inundated with complaints about delays because reports are years behind time, passport office, DVLA, Tourism which thrives on the night economy
4.Fix transportation by prioritizing the railways and improve commuting
5.Manufacturing will be key where various forms of support and incentives for the private sector will be available. Such as tax breaks, retooling, access to capital, revamping collapsed banks etc etc
6.New policies on vehicles and Ship
Maintenance, building of vehicles,repair and rehabilitation yards
7.Introduce a Workers Brigade –
A Youth in Agriculture, with support and incentives, tax holidays and tax moratorium for start-ups for agro processing for exports
8.Demand is key but demand can also be stimulated. Apart from a large market out there for exports internal demand can be stimulated – supply induced demand. Airlines, shipping lines and other forms of transportation facilities can induce demand by creating new routes – Accra -Kumasi, Accra Takoradi by air did not exist a few years ago but are now demand driven
Same can be achieved between Accra – Bolgatanga and other cities.
The public and private sector bus services were birthed because of demand. Sometimes demand must also be supply driven.
9.Provision of Security – improving visibility. Shops will be free to close late as security is assured and so will filling stations and other ancillary services
10.MPS GPHA currently work 24 hours but the other support services do not. If the incentives exist they will all work 24 hours, process documents for clearance and reduce high demurrage and clearing times at the port.
11.Corruption – so much money goes to waste, same can be saved for example the $58 million dollars expended on the National Cathedral, 11.9 million dollars spent on the nonexistent Pwalugu Dam, the $12 million dollars PDS wasted expenditures can all be recovered and would be used to create incentives for the private sector and support the government wage bill.
12.Energy will be key in the 24 hour economy. Cheaper power through the Time of Use policy will provide cheaper electricity for Manufacturing companies and businesses – and there will be additional Incentives for renewable energy.
13.Fisheries,aquaculture and fish processing is a 24 hour business in many countries and same can be replicated here in Ghana.
The requisite security, incentives and support could be provided to the private sector to facilitate the implementation of the policy.
14.Building and construction projects are mostly designed to operate 24/7 and can be undertaken in a 24 hour working cycle. The incoming John Mahama administration will be intentional and deliberate about the implementation of this policy by developing regulations, introducing tax breaks and tax incentives and creating an effective and more enabling environment for businesses all across the country with the main focus on reducing unemployment rates and improving sustainable employment opportunities for all and in all sectors of the economy.
If effectively implemented, the #Mahama24HourWorkingEconomy will be the panacea to Ghana’s current unemployment malaise.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
