THE Private Enter­prise Federation (PEF) has called on government to pro­vide a sustainable plan for its flagship 24-hour economy programme in order to boost private investor confidence.PEF, an apex body representing various private sector businesses and associations, has expressed concern that the programme in­tended to boost productivity, create jobs, and enhance competitiveness may suffer the same fate as the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) initiative, which was introduced by the previous administration and discontinued by the current one.The Federation, which comprises the Association of Ghana Indus­tries, the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ghana Employers' Association, the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters, the Ghana Association of Bankers, the Ghana Chamber of Mines, and others, has therefore urged the govern­ment to present a clear roadmap to safeguard investor confidence and protect long-term investments.In an interview with The Ghana­ian Times last Friday in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of the Federation, Nana Osei Bonsu, said members were hesitant to commit resources to the programme with­out assurances that their invest­ments would be protected in the event of a change in government.

He therefore called for stronger collaboration between the private sector and government to mitigate risks associated with the pro­gramme's implementation.Nana Bonsu reiterated the im­portance of a sustainable frame­work, adding that the Federation welcomed the 24-hour economy initiative and was willing to support efforts to transform Ghana's economy."So, the private sector is a little hesitant as to how we get the as­surance that it's going to work and remain operational.

We haven't met the government yet because we're still consulting with our partners and peers to determine how they would want the 24-hour economy to be structured so that they can take advantage of it.The business community is willing to support the initiative when there is assurance that our investment will be protected and resourced appropriately, without the risk of abandonment after a change in government," he said.He urged the government to prioritise key sectors such as roads, security, electricity, water, and access to flexible loan repayment systems to ensure a smooth take-off of the programme."The government needs the pri­vate sector to achieve the 24-hour economy.

For that to happen, in­frastructure must be available.