Ghana’s proposed 24-hour economy policy risks missing the mark unless it addresses structural bottlenecks in agriculture, a civil society advocate has said.

Samuel Doku of the Centre for Democratic Movement said the concept — aimed at boosting job creation through shift-based productivity — must be adapted to the realities of the farming sector.

“My understanding is that the policy is about creating multiple shifts for employment,” he said, speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (26 May).

However, he argued that agricultural productivity cannot simply be extended into night-time work, and instead requires investment in post-harvest systems.

“What government can do is build warehouses and storage facilities so produce does not go to waste,” he said.

Such infrastructure, he added, would not only preserve harvests but also generate employment within the value chain.

The comments come as farmers grapple with falling prices and limited market access, with many unable to recover production costs.

Doku also pointed to broader institutional weaknesses, saying the Ministry of Food and Agriculture had not adequately addressed farmers’ concerns.

“It is both a design problem and an implementation problem,” he said.

He urged the government to prioritise rural road networks, input support and storage systems as immediate interventions to stabilise the sector.