Tense Exchange in Parliament as Afenyo-Markin Challenges Fisheries Minister on 24-Hour Economy
Accra, Ghana —A sharp exchange unfolded in Parliament on Monday between Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon. Emelia Arthur, over the connection between government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy policy and the newly launched Blue Economy initiative.
The debate, which took place during the Minister’s presentation on the fisheries sector, quickly turned political when the Minority Leader questioned the policy alignment and manifesto basis of the Blue Economy programme.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin challenged the Minister to clarify whether the Blue Economy strategy was formally rooted in the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto, accusing the government of “policy improvisation.”
“In the dispatch box, you are talking about a 24-hour economy a policy document that is not before us and suggesting that your Blue Economy is part of the ecosystem of this so-called 24-hour economy,” he said. “May I know, Honourable Minister, whether this Blue Economy programme you are talking about found space in your manifesto? Because, for instance, when Akufo-Addo implemented Free SHS, it had already been stated in the NPP manifesto for the 2016 election.”
The Minority Leader argued that the absence of a published policy document weakens the government’s claim that the Blue Economy forms part of the 24-Hour Economy framework.
In a firm response, Hon. Emelia Arthure dismissed suggestions that the Blue Economy was an ad hoc initiative, insisting it was explicitly captured in the NDC’s 2024 election manifesto, which proposed the establishment of a Blue Economy Commission under the Fisheries Ministry. “The reason I tend to be the one speaking the most about the Blue Economy is because, in the NDC’s 2024 manifesto, mention was made of establishing the Blue Economy Commission under the fisheries sector,” she explained. “When we started the work, we realised that the Blue Economy cannot be under one sector alone — hence Cabinet’s approval for an inter-ministerial committee and inter-sectoral technical team to coordinate implementation.”
Hon. Arthure clarified that, contrary to Afenyo-Markin’s claim, the 24-Hour Economy is not subordinate to the Blue Economy; rather, the Blue Economy operates within the broader 24-Hour development framework.
“Mr Speaker, the 24-Hour Economy is not a subset of the Blue Economy — it’s the other way around,” she stated. “As far as I’m concerned, the 24-Hour Economy has been launched and is an integral part of our national development agenda. It was important that its principles were reflected in the Blue Economy strategy.”
She added that the government’s approach was “forward-looking and holistic”, aimed at avoiding piecemeal interventions across ministries. “We are thinking long-term so we can transform this country to another level altogether within the short time Ghanaians have given us,” she said.
The Blue Economy strategy seeks to harness Ghana’s marine and aquatic resources for sustainable economic growth, innovation, and environmental protection, while the 24-Hour Economy aims to stimulate productivity, investment, and job creation through round-the-clock economic activity.
The parliamentary exchange reflects growing partisan debates over economic frameworks, especially as Ghana prepares for mid-term policy reviews in 2026.
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