Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in parliament, has fired shots at the NDC-led government over its failure to provide clarity on its flagship 24-Hour Economy policy.
The Minority leader noted that despite the campaign promises that the 24-Hour Economy policy would create massive employment opportunities for Ghanaians, the 2026 budget failed to mention it.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister for Finance, presenting the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in Parliament, revealed that the government is targeting total revenue and grants of GH¢268.1 billion for 2026.
He further revealed that the government aims to create up to 800,000 new jobs across various sectors.
The Finance Minister also highlighted that GH¢110 million has been allocated in the 2026 budget for the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy Programme.
Afenyo-Markin, speaking shortly after the Minister for Finance’s budget statement, quizzed the Mahama government on where the one job running three shifts is.
According to Afenyo-Markin, Ghanaian youths are asking for the NDC’s promised one job running three shifts to provide three jobs.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, Afenyo-Markin stated, “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 added.
In related news, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that President John Mahama has directed all public schools from basic to secondary to purchase staple food items produced in Ghana.
The directive announced in the 2026 budget is aimed at supporting Ghana’s agricultural sector and ensuring market stability for Ghana’s local farmers.
The Mahama government initiative is dubbed a “Buy Ghana, Eat Ghana”.
Presenting the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Thursday, November 13, Dr Ato Forson stated, “President Mahama has also directed all schools, from basic to secondary, to purchase rice, maize, chicken and eggs produced in Ghana only.”
The “Buy Ghana, Eat Ghana” directive covers a significant portion of the national food budget.
The Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), the School Feeding Programme, the Free Secondary Education Secretariat, and the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFBC) have been tasked to rigorously enforce the directive explicitly.
Also, the Finance Minister has announced that Ghana’s economy is breathing again, stronger and steadier.
Dr Forson stated, “Ghana’s economy is breathing again, stronger, steadier and full of promise.
This is not just a recovery; it is a reset. It is the story of a nation that refused to stay down.
Watch the video below:
Amɛkɛɛ amɛbaahã wɔ 24 hour economy. Nɛgbɛ nitsumɔ lɛ yɔɔ? – Afenyo-Markin.#2026Budget #JoyNews pic.twitter.com/HQ94GVxV5g
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) November 13, 2025