Ghana’s Parliament has passed the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, bringing significant changes to how national holidays are observed across the country.
🎯 Key Changes at a Glance
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Midweek holidays (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays) will now be observed on Fridays.
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Weekend holidays (Saturdays and Sundays) will shift to the following Monday.
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August 4 Founders’ Day has been scrapped.
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September 21 Founder’s Day is reinstated.
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July 1 Republic Day is now a full statutory holiday.
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New Muslim holiday: Shaqq Day, observed the day after Eid-ul-Fitr.
🔁 Purpose Behind the Changes
According to Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, who presented the bill on June 24, the goal is to create longer, consistent weekends to:
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Boost productivity by avoiding midweek disruptions
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Stimulate domestic tourism and creative arts
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Provide clarity and planning ease for businesses and workers
“This will give us longevity in weekends and help improve our economic activity,” the Minister explained.
He added that studies suggested these changes would not have a negative financial impact on the economy.
🗓️ Updated Official Holidays (Statutory)
Here’s the revised list of holidays retained or introduced under the new amendment:
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January 1 – New Year’s Day
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January 7 – Constitution Day
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March 6 – Independence Day
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March/April – Good Friday & Easter Monday
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May 1 – Labour Day
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July 1 – Republic Day (now statutory)
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September 21 – Founder’s Day (reinstated)
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1st Friday of December – Farmers’ Day
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December 25 – Christmas Day
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December 26 – Boxing Day
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Eid-ul-Fitr – (Lunar date)
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Shaqq Day – Day after Eid-ul-Fitr (new)
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Eid-ul-Adha – (Lunar date)
🧭 Controversy in Parliament
The bill was passed under a certificate of urgency, a move that drew strong objection from the Minority, who argued that more pressing national issues should be prioritized.
“While we support reviewing holidays, this isn’t an urgent national crisis,” an opposition MP remarked.
Nonetheless, the bill was passed by majority vote.
🇬🇭 Founder’s Day vs Founders’ Day Debate Resolved?
The new law abolishes the August 4 “Founders’ Day”, which honored multiple independence contributors, and restores September 21 “Founder’s Day”, traditionally recognized as the birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president.
The government justified the change by stating that August 4 remained controversial and lacked national consensus.
“As a nation, we are not united around August 4. It served as a divisive day,” Muntaka stated.
🔮 What It Means for You
Whether you’re a worker, student, tourist, or business owner, this new calendar brings longer weekends, clearer planning, and potentially fewer midweek disruptions. The government also hopes it will lead to economic gains in hospitality, travel, and events.
📌 Stay informed as the new holiday schedule takes effect in the second half of 2025.
