Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has heavily criticized the NDC’s 2025 Economic Budget, calling it an “Azaa budget”—meaning deceptive. Speaking in Parliament on March 11, 2025, following the presentation of the budget by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Afenyo-Markin expressed disappointment over the absence of the much-promised 24-hour economy policy, a key campaign pledge of the NDC.
He accused the government of failing to deliver on its promise to implement the 24-hour economy, which the NDC claimed would create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Afenyo-Markin questioned why the policy, which President John Mahama previously said was already in motion, was missing from the budget.
“Where is the 24-hour economy? The youth of this country were hopeful for the jobs it would bring, but now we hear it will be introduced later. Were all these promises just an ‘Azaa’?” he asked.
He further criticized the budget for offering no new solutions, calling it a mere repetition of previous social intervention programmes with no real hope or inspiration for the country’s future.