The Cape Coast Mayor, George Justice Arthur, has defended the government’s 24-hour economy policy, insisting that the initiative goes beyond the establishment of 24-hour markets.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Class FM’s Elizabeth Aidoo, Mr Arthur said the policy was designed to promote round-the-clock operations across various sectors of the economy.

He mentioned hospitals, banks, ports and pharmaceutical companies as examples of institutions and businesses that operate around the clock.

The Mayor argued that the policy should not be understood solely in terms of the construction of 24-hour markets or the introduction of three work shifts in a day.

He further cited the Cape Coast Castle as an example of a facility operating 24 hours under the initiative.

According to him, the major difference between previous round-the-clock operations and the current policy is the introduction of a deliberate national framework to guide its implementation.

He said the policy document had been submitted to and approved by Parliament, describing this as evidence that the initiative had moved beyond political rhetoric.

“The 24 hours has moved from just a mere rhetoric to operationalisation,” he stated.

Arthur also called for collective support for the policy, arguing that its successful implementation should be a national effort rather than a partisan issue.