To successfully implement a 24-hour economy, as proposed by former President John Dramani Mahama, the Ghana Police Service will need to significantly bolster its workforce, according to COP Bright Oduro (Rtd), a former Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
The former CID boss emphasized that the current police-to-citizen ratio of 1:800 is insufficient to support a 24-hour economy and must be improved to at least 1:500, as recommended by the United Nations.

To achieve this, the police service would need to recruit an additional 25,000 personnel, augmenting the current strength of approximately 42,000 officers.
COP Oduro (Rtd) stressed that enhancing the police’s logistical capabilities is also crucial to ensure the effective implementation of a 24-hour economy.
He made these remarks at a forum, where he highlighted the potential benefits of a 24-hour economy, including addressing unemployment, which has become a pressing concern in Ghana.
Former President Mahama has touted a 24-hour economy as a game changer for Ghana, capable of resolving various challenges, including unemployment.
However, the success of this initiative hinges on the police service’s ability to adapt and expand its capacity to meet the demands of a round-the-clock economy.