Duncan Amoah: Gov’t should create conditions for 24-hour economy, not build markets

Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), has criticized the government's approach to implementing the 24-hour economy. He believes public funds should not primarily be used to construct markets, but rather to create the conditions that will encourage businesses and consumers to engage in economic activities at night.

Amoah argues that merely constructing physical infrastructure without addressing key barriers, such as inadequate security and street lighting, could result in wasted public funds. He emphasizes that if cultural and societal norms dictate that people sleep by 6 pm, a night market will ultimately fail. Instead, the government should focus on creating an environment where businesses can operate beyond the traditional working day without putting workers and customers at unnecessary risk.

Amoah suggests that businesses like salons, pharmacies, and shops could benefit from increased economic activity at night if the necessary conditions were provided. He also calls for stronger night-time security and better street lighting, urging the police to increase their presence at night and highlighting the need for more visible police checkpoints along major roads.

Improved security, he argues, would give people the confidence to engage in economic activities after dark, such as parking their vehicles, shopping, and eating out. In addition to security measures, Amoah suggests using incentives to drive night-time activity, such as offering selected goods and services at lower prices during off-peak hours.

He urges the government to rethink its approach to the 24-hour economy, focusing on policies that make the additional 12 hours economically productive and avoiding a reduction of the initiative to merely constructing physical facilities.