The 24-hour economy and job losses

By Amos SAFO

During the 2024 general elections, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaigned on the promise of “Resetting Ghana: Jobs, Accountability and Prosperity for all.”  To the surprise of many political analysts, the party won an overwhelming victory in both the presidential and parliamentary elections.

In fact, this is the first time a political party has won a two-thirds majority in parliament in a competitive election since 1992. For the records, the first Parliament of the Fourth Republic was a one-sided one due to the boycott of the parliamentary poll by the opposition parties led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

As indicated above, job creation for the youth was the cornerstone of the NDC manifesto after the party chastised the Akufo-Addo government for failing to provide more jobs for the youth. In one of his campaign messages on Facebook, then opposition leader and now President John Dramani Mahama stated that “Job creation is the highest priority of the next NDC government. “We will implement realistic policies to create sustainable, decent and well-paying jobs”, the President affirmed.

Economic growth

Specifically, Mr.  Mahama promised to create 300,000 job opportunities in the digital space if elected. Perhaps, these and other promises offered by President Mahama appealed to the electorate, who overwhelmingly endorsed his bid for a second tenure. It is an established fact that employment is crucial for economic growth, as a high employment rate leads to increased consumption, investment, and production, which in turn drive economic growth and reduces unemployment.

Moreover, the promise of a 24-hour economy, especially for the youth must have convinced many people of better days ahead, since President Mahama promised to reset the economy.  Thus, a whopping 57 percent of the electorate voted to reset the economy, but I am unsure whether with hindsight, they expected the current government to resort to dismissing workers. Let us be reminded that good job creation is essential to sustainable, inclusive democratic and economic development. In other words, no country could realize the benefits of democracy if those entrusted with power fail to ensure that many citizens who want to work can get jobs.

Retrogression

Against this backdrop, the policy of President Mahama’s government to dismiss all public sector workers who were employed after December 7, 2024, is retrogressive, to say the least.    A letter of dismissal signed by the Chief of Staff, Mr. Julius Debrah, cited non-compliance with good governance practices and principles as the reason behind his government’s action.

According to the Chief of Staff, such last-minute appointments were inconsistent with the government’s stated position on end-of-tenure recruitment. “I wish to bring to your attention that all appointments and recruitment made in the Public Services of Ghana after 7th December 2024, are not in compliance with established good governance practices and principles,” Mr. Debrah emphasized.

In a related development, the management of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) on February 24, 2025 directed all staff to stay home pending the resolution of legal and administrative issues related to employment and salary payments. In my opinion not only is the policy of sacking workers employed by past government retrogressive, but it is also inhumane and unfair.

Stone-age politics

One school of thought believes that those who were employed after December 7, were members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Granted that they are card-bearing members of the NPP, the question is, are they not Ghanaians? If in the past NPP did same to NDC supporters, do two wrongs constitute a right? I think our democracy has come a long way, so this stone-age politics of “you do me, I do you” is inconsistent with modern democratic practice.

If the Akufo-Addo government made a mistake by employing workers contrary to laid down procedures, I think their employment should have been rationalized to prove a point that governments are given power to correct mistakes and not inflict pain on perceived oppoents.  The government’s action constitutes an assault to employment, rather than the massive jobs Mr. Mahama promised to create for the youth.

With this decision the Mahama administration is contributing to unemployment, rather than fulfilling its campaign promise to create more jobs.  High unemployment significantly hinders economic growth by reducing consumer spending, lowering overall demand, and increasing social costs. This ultimately leads to economic stagnation and potential social unrest.  I am not sure if the government intends to inflict pain on Ghanaians by virtue of having political power. May I humbly ask, if the dismissal of workers is integral to resetting the economy, which President Mahama promised Ghanaians?

Counter-argument

I have heard counter-arguments by NPP spokespersons on various radio and television programmes that the dismissed workers went through the legitimate recruitment process before receiving appointment letters. Of particular concern to me is the dismissals of staff in critical sectors like health and education. The two sectors provide essential services to all Ghanaians, especially women, children and youth; so, if the government prioritizes partisanship over national interest, it undermines economic and social progress after a change of government.

The continuous polarization of Ghana between NDC and NPP in terms of access to jobs and opportunities is a threat to the long term development. No countries, including the advanced economies, made economic progress without harnessing the collective capacity of their labour force.  I can foresee several legal tussles between the dismissed workers and the government. The payment of judgement debts cannot also be ruled out.  This will create needless tension in the country and further polarize the country politically.  One NPP commentator said on a radio station that a future NPP government will appoint all the dismissed staff and pay them a backlog of salaries to cover the period of their dismissal.

The penchant for rubbishing or criminalising all policies or actions of a predecessor government is not progressive. At this stage of our democratic and economic development we need continuity of policies, in as much as the policies are inclusive and provide universal benefits to all Ghanaians. Those Ghanaians who have been dismissed equally deserve employment, firstly to improve their lives and contribute their quota to national development. Secondly, gaining employment provides opportunities for the youth to develop their skills through career advancement.

SHS, TVET and STEM

The speed with which the current government plans to cancel the free Senior High School and perhaps, TVET and STEM is disturbing. A policy that provided access to free SHS, TVET and STEM education to the tune of 3.5 million students between 2017 and 2024 should not be discarded because it was implemented by a rival party.

I think Mr. Mahama’s government should not spend the next four years undoing the policies of his predecessor. Ghanaians expect his government to actualise the promises he made rather than embarking on a wild goose chase. Arguably, President Mahama’s takeoff is not a good for various reasons. Firstly his failure to stop his party youth from destroying and annexing state and private property is a dark spot on his administration. Secondly, the Attorney General’s decision to discontinue the trial of criminal cases involving some top brass NDC and functionaries only pours cold water on his promise to fight  corruption .

Ten steps backward

In my opinion, the wholesale dismissal of workers employed after December 7, 2024 is nothing short of political vindictiveness. How can a government that promised to create more jobs resort to dismissing people employed by its predecessor? I expect President Mahama’s second government to make a clean break from the past. If the NPP did the same thing in 2017 and it was wrong, it is equally wrong today. We cannot build a country, and an economy sorely based on party affiliations. It is the responsibility of every government to create a conducive environment for every Ghanaian, irrespective of party colours to contribute to national development. Governments are changed to build on the good things they inherited, not to pull down what they inherited for sake of politics. This explains why our economy is tottering and uncompetitive. We take one step forward and ten steps backwards.

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