Parliament has approved the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, bringing significant changes to Ghana’s official holiday calendar.
Key Highlights:
- Republic Day Restored: July 1 will now be recognized as a statutory public holiday, celebrated as Republic Day.
- August 4 Removed: This date has been removed from the list of official holidays.
- Founders’ Day Revised: Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day has been renamed Founders’ Day and rescheduled to September 21.
- New Muslim Holiday Introduced: “Shaqq Day,” a new Islamic holiday, will be observed the day after Eid ul-Fitr, in line with a National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaign promise.
- Holiday Flexibility: The President will have the authority to shift any public holiday that falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday to the following Friday through an Executive Instrument.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak told Parliament the changes aim to promote longer weekends and enhance workplace productivity.
The bill sparked debate in the House, particularly over its passage under a certificate of urgency. Opposition MPs criticized the expedited process, arguing it sidelined other national concerns. Nevertheless, the legislation was passed.
Once signed by the President, the bill will usher in a restructured national holiday calendar for Ghana.
