“Will a 24-Hour Economy Really Save Us—Or Just Keep Us Awake?”
— Why Ghana’s round-the-clock dream needs more than slogans and streetlights.
-It was around 11:47 pm when I stepped out to buy paracetamol for a throbbing headache.
I had just finished some freelance work, my phone was overheating, and my eyes felt like pepper. I walked to the nearby shop only to see the shutters half-closed, the attendant dozing behind the counter like life had finally caught up to him.
“No change,” he mumbled.
I handed him a GHS 20 note.
He waved me off. “Come tomorrow.”
And I left—still aching, still annoyed.
So when I heard that Ghana’s leadership is pushing this whole “24-hour economy” idea, it made me pause.
Not because it’s a bad idea. But because—like that tired shopkeeper—I’ve seen firsthand what happens when we try to stretch an already-strained system without fixing the foundation first.
-Big Promise, Blurry Details
The Speaker of Parliament recently urged the business community to scrutinise the 24-hour economy policy and enrich its content.
Translation?
Let’s stop clapping for the idea and actually figure out what the heck it means.
Because right now, it feels like a well-lit billboard with no clear destination.
A buzzword we’re expected to cheer for.
But nobody's saying how we get there.
I’m not totally sure, but in my experience, the average Ghanaian small business isn’t thinking, “Let me hire more night shift workers.” They’re thinking,
> “How do I pay my electricity bill next week?”
-More Than Just Lights and Lateness
Here’s what I’ve noticed lately: the 24-hour economy idea is being sold as a fix for unemployment and productivity. But let’s not kid ourselves—working longer hours in a broken economy isn’t the same as building a stronger one.
What about safety?
What about transportation at 2am?
What about electricity stability for night-shift operations?
What about labor laws, and wages, and burnout?
We can’t just flip a switch and expect Ghana to operate like Dubai.
This isn’t Netflix. We can’t just “go 24/7” with no buffering.
-The Business Community’s Role (Spoiler: It’s Huge)
That’s why the Speaker’s comment matters. He didn’t just tell politicians to polish their policy.
He told business people — the ones who actually have to make it happen — to dig deep. To ask hard questions. To poke holes in the idea now before it bursts later.
Because if we’re serious about this 24-hour economy dream, we need real conversations. Honest ones.
How will small businesses benefit?
What kind of support will they get?
Will taxes be adjusted for night operations?
What will health workers, security officers, and cleaners get for staying up while the rest of us sleep?
-Real Talk: Who Is This For?
Sometimes I wonder…
Are we building this 24-hour economy for the average Ghanaian?
Or just for the headlines?
Because it feels like something designed in boardrooms, not in trotro stations.
Something meant to impress investors, not impact lives on the ground.
And if we’re not careful, it’ll end up being like that fancy app you downloaded but never opened again—looks good, does nothing.
-So, What Now?
Here’s my (possibly unpopular) take:
The 24-hour economy isn’t a bad idea. It’s actually exciting.
But only if we treat it like the serious national project it is.
We need more than lights and late hours.
We need training. Structure. Policy reforms. Mental health support. Fair pay. Real planning.
And most of all, we need to ask:
Is this really for progress—or just another political tagline in disguise?
-Final Thought
I’m still thinking about that sleepy shopkeeper from that random Tuesday night.
If the 24-hour economy were real, he wouldn’t be struggling alone.
He’d have support, structure, safety—and maybe even someone to rotate shifts with.
But right now?
It just feels like another plan that asks more from the people who already give too much.
So, before we launch into this brave new 24-hour world… can we stop and ask: what are we really building—and who is it for?
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