The 24-Hour Economy Secretariat has distanced itself from the government’s planned 24-hour markets, saying it has no legal authority or oversight responsibility over the projects.

Presidential Adviser on the 24-Hour Economy, Goosie Tanoh, said the confusion had led to the secretariat being drawn into legal disputes over markets it does not control.

Speaking to news editors in Accra on Wednesday (19 August), Tanoh said the government’s 24-hour economy agenda was often misunderstood as covering both the broader economic programme and the development of 24-hour markets.

The markets, which are expected to be established in 262 districts, fall under the Ministry of Local Government and district assemblies, with funding expected to come through the District Assemblies Common Fund, he said.

“Although they use a 24-hour logo, we have no control over the markets. We are not part of deciding where it goes, and so on and so forth,” Tanoh said.

He said the secretariat had been sued four or five times over matters concerning the market projects despite having no responsibility for them.

“Our lawyer is moving a motion in November to get us to be removed from the defendant’s list because we have no jurisdiction. We have no status in the matter,” he said.

Mr Tanoh, however, said the planned markets could complement the government’s wider economic objectives by improving agricultural supply chains and reducing post-harvest losses.

He highlighted the importance of storage and cooling facilities for perishable goods, saying such infrastructure could help reduce losses estimated at between 30 and 40 percent across the agricultural supply chain.

“If you have cooling facilities, then your vegetables, your perishables, and so on, have somewhere to be stored so that we don’t lose or add to the 30% to 40% post-harvest losses that we have within the supply chain,” he said.

The government’s 24-hour economy programme seeks to expand round-the-clock production and services in strategic sectors, with the stated aim of boosting productivity, creating jobs and strengthening economic activity.

Source: Asaaseradio