Gov’t Must Address Wages and Mobility to Sustain 24-Hour Economy — IMANI Warns
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
Policy think tank IMANI Africa has cautioned that Ghana’s flagship 24-hour economy could severely underperform if government fails to tackle critical labour and transportation barriers that directly affect workers, businesses, and consumers.
In its latest Critical Analysis of Governance Issues (CAGI) report, IMANI argued that the success of a 24-hour economy depends not only on infrastructure and private sector investment but also on creating the right incentives for the workforce and ensuring safe and affordable mobility after dark. Without these pillars, the think tank says, the vision risks remaining more theoretical than practical.
A major concern highlighted in the report centres on compensation for night-shift workers. IMANI notes that Ghana’s existing labour framework does not adequately define or enforce premium payments, allowances, or other benefits for employees who work beyond normal hours. According to the organisation, this structural gap poses a threat to the overall productivity of the night economy.
“Premium wages, allowances, or other forms of compensation are not luxuries; they are essential mechanisms to balance the sacrifices workers make when extending their hours into the night,” the report stressed.
The think tank warned that, without these financial incentives, businesses could struggle to attract sufficient manpower for late-night operations, ultimately stifling output, weakening job creation efforts, and hurting productivity, the very outcomes the 24-hour economy seeks to achieve.
IMANI also examined transport challenges that currently discourage participation in economic activity after dark. Rising transport fares, evening traffic congestion, limited late-night bus routes, and higher fuel consumption were identified as key obstacles for both workers and consumers. For IMANI, ensuring predictable and affordable mobility is essential if Ghanaians are to fully engage with a 24-hour system.
To address these gaps, the think tank proposed targeted solutions including expanded bus rapid transit operations at night, improved urban traffic management, and regulated partnerships between the government and private transport operators to stabilise fares and routes.
“By addressing both affordability and incentives, government can create a virtuous cycle: workers are motivated to participate, businesses can operate efficiently, and consumers can access services without prohibitive costs,” IMANI stated.
The 24-hour economy initiative aims to extend productive activity across multiple sectors, including hospitality, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, retail, and public services, in order to boost job creation, improve competitiveness, and stimulate overall economic growth.
However, IMANI’s report concludes that without urgent reforms, the ambitious policy risks excluding the very people whose participation is required to make it work: the workers who provide essential services after hours and the consumers who sustain demand.
The organisation therefore urges government to match its bold economic vision with practical support systems that protect labour, ensure reliable transportation, and guarantee that businesses are not left to absorb the additional costs alone. Only then, IMANI insists, will the 24-hour economy transition from a political slogan to a truly transformative national development strategy.
