24-Hour Economy secretariat to withdraw defence in lawsuits over matters outside its mandate

The 24-Hour Economy Secretariat has announced it will withdraw its defence from several court cases filed against it, claiming these matters are outside its mandate. Presidential Advisor Augustus Obuadum Tanoh explained this decision at the Secretariat’s Editors Forum in Accra. Tanoh said the organization has been served with lawsuits concerning issues that do not fall under its jurisdiction due to a misunderstanding of its role.

He emphasized that the Secretariat cannot continue defending claims that it is not responsible for, explaining that the withdrawal process will begin in November. Tanoh clarified that the 24-Hour Economy policy aims to expand production, attract investment, and create jobs through support for businesses that operate outside the conventional nine-to-five workday.

He stressed that the mandate is broader than simply constructing markets and is focused on enhancing economic activities and job creation. Tanoh also noted that the Secretariat does not control its budget directly; instead, funding comes from the Jubilee House. He further distinguished the 24-Hour Economy initiative from the previous government's One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme, stressing that success should be measured by actual economic activities rather than mere publicity.

The Secretariat is currently negotiating with between 13 and 14 investors, with the hope that these discussions will lead to real projects. Tanoh urged the media, particularly editors, to help educate the public on the true objectives and mandate of the 24-Hour Economy policy to avoid misconceptions and manage public expectations.