Power deficits, water pollution, unreliable internet threaten 24-hour economy – Prof Stephen Adei

Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, has warned that persistent power deficits, water pollution and unreliable internet connectivity could undermine the government’s 24-hour economy initiative.

He said the country’s existing infrastructure and utility challenges must be addressed before the policy can deliver its intended outcomes, particularly in an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI).

“The reality is that if we do not tackle the power deficits, the water pollution, the unreliable internet in an AI economy, you cannot achieve a 24-hour economy,” he said.

Prof Adei was speaking at the 37th CIMG Annual National Marketing Performance Awards at the Labadi Beach Hotel on Saturday, October 17, 2026, under the theme, “Brand Ghana Reimagined: Trust, Innovation and Growth in the AI Economy.”

He acknowledged that the government had begun implementing the 24-hour economy policy, which has been passed into law and is built around eight pillars.

He cited efforts to revive industrial activity in Akosombo and Juapong, as well as the inauguration of some industrial parks, as early signs of implementation.

The initiative, he said, seeks to create jobs and increase capacity utilisation across the economy.

However, he questioned whether some projects being developed under the initiative were adequately equipped to support round-the-clock operations.

Prof Adei said he had seen two proposed 24-hour markets near his village but observed that they did not yet demonstrate the level of activity implied by the concept.

“The fundamentals, in many cases, utilities, do not, at this moment, support an eight-hour economy,” he said, arguing that the country needed to address basic infrastructure constraints before pursuing a full 24-hour operating model.

He urged policymakers to prioritise the underlying requirements for sustained economic activity rather than focus solely on establishing facilities.

“Let’s try to learn to walk before we run,” he added.

Prof Adei also acknowledged improvements in the cost of borrowing, crediting the government for a decline in lending rates from about 27 per cent to nearly 16 per cent for some borrowers in good standing.

He cautioned, however, that many businesses and individuals continued to face interest rates in the 20 per cent range, particularly those without access to preferential lending terms.

He said the gap between inflation and interest rates remained a concern because it affected the real cost of borrowing for businesses seeking to invest and expand.