Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and a member of Parliament’s Works and Housing and Finance Committees, Prof Seidu Mahama Alidu, has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) widely publicised “1-3-3 jobs” slogan was a statement used to explain the party’s proposed 24-hour economy policy and was not a campaign promise to create jobs in that specific format.
According to the NDC MP, the party did not promise Ghanaians that it would create “1-3-3 jobs.”
He argued that the format was used during the 2024 election campaign as an illustrative explanation of how the proposed 24-hour economy policy would operate.
Speaking during a panel discussion on the GTV Breakfast Show on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, NPP member Ofosu Boakye challenged the government to account for what had become of what he described as the NDC’s “1-3-3 jobs” promise.
The NPP man, in his commentary, argued that the promise was incorporated into the NDC’s 2024 manifesto and policy messaging around the 24-hour economy.
Ofosu Boakye noted that the party presented the system as one in which a job could be organised across three shifts and performed by three different people.
“Let us not trivialise the argument. You promised giving Ghanaians a 1-3-3 job,” Ofosu Boakye stated.
However, the Tamale MP strongly rejected the description, claiming that the phrase did not comprise a formal policy promise to Ghanaians.
Prof Seidu Mahama Alidu stated, “In which policy report? No, no, I won’t let you go with this. It was a statement that was made in an explanation”.
The Tamale Central MP maintained that the “1-3-3” expression was intended to help explain the concept of the 24-hour economy rather than serve as a standalone employment pledge.
However, Dr Stephen Issaka, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communication Team, has explained that the Mahama government 1:3:3 shift system will come at the very end of the 24-Hour Economy policy.
According to Dr Stephen Issaka, the 24-hour economy is not a switch one can just flick on and off, adding that the policy cannot be implemented overnight.
He explained that the government’s plan represents a significant attempt to extend economic activity beyond the conventional 12-hour cycle.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana on Monday, August 31, 2026, Dr Issaka stated, “Look, the 24-Hour Economy is not a switch you can just flick on and off. Historically, we as a country have been a 12-hour, our economic sort of system, basically, right down from Christmas ever to today”.
“So this is a bold attempt by a government for the very first time to try and push the economy, businesses, and manufacturing beyond 12 hours,” he stated.
He argued that successful implementation of the 24-hour economy policy would first require major improvements in infrastructure and others.
Dr Issaka stated, “And so, look, 24-Hour Economy will require roads, and that’s what Big Push is for. A 24-hour economy will require that banks and individuals can borrow at reasonable rates. That is in the pipeline,” “24-Hour Economy will require electricity around the clock. You and I will agree that at the moment, we are not dead, but we are pushing on that particular trajectory”.
“24-Hour Economy will require security…, would you want to go out and work in the night if you think you’re not going to get transport? If you think there is no electricity, there is no light, that’s a security problem. So that needs to be solved,” he said.
He further disclosed that the 1:3:3 shift under the 24-Hour Economy policy is at the climax of the policy.
“The 1:3:3 is supposed to be at the crescendo, at the very end of our project,” he stated.
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