Dr. John Kingsley Krugu, spokesperson for the Environment and Natural Resources Sector Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has questioned the ability of the proposed 24-hour economy markets to generate meaningful economic growth and employment opportunities for young people in the Upper East Region.
According to him, the construction of market infrastructure alone cannot drive a successful 24-hour economy without the critical element of sustained human traffic and economic activity.
Speaking on A1 Radio, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority argued that the concept of a 24-hour economy goes beyond physical infrastructure and requires vibrant commercial ecosystems capable of attracting people and businesses throughout the day and night.
“It’s good to put up markets and infrastructure, and we are happy about that. Let them build them; they will be useful tomorrow,” he said. “But if anybody tells you that those markets alone will stimulate the 24-hour economy, it will not.”
Dr. Krugu, who said he had lived in Amsterdam and understood how modern 24-hour economies function, maintained that consistent human movement and commercial demand are the foundations of any thriving round-the-clock economy.
“The basic requirement for a twenty-four-hour economy is human traffic,” he stressed.
To support his argument, he referenced the current state of the Bolgatanga Market, which he described as an organically developed trading hub that already reflects the region’s economic realities.
“If you want to know whether the markets they are building will stimulate a 24-hour economy, go to the Bolga Market tomorrow at 8 p.m. or 9 p.m.,” he said. “The existing Bolga Market has developed over time naturally. Go there and see whether you experience a twenty-four-hour economy. That should tell you something.”
His comments come amid ongoing national discussions surrounding the government’s proposed 24-hour economy policy, which it says will boost industrial productivity, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth through extended business operations and infrastructure investments.
However, Dr. Krugu believes the focus has shifted excessively toward market construction rather than addressing the structural and economic factors necessary to sustain continuous business activity.
He further alleged that political and contractual interests may be influencing the implementation of some of the projects tied to the policy.
“The focus has now been moved to building markets because everybody closer in the inner cycle wants a contract,” he claimed during the interview.
While acknowledging the long-term value of market infrastructure, Dr. Krugu insisted that creating sustainable youth employment requires broader investments in industrialization, transportation, energy reliability, and policies that encourage businesses to operate beyond traditional working hours.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
