Parliament has approved the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing sweeping changes to Ghana’s national holiday calendar.
The Bill, laid under a certificate of urgency on June 24 by the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mubarak-Mohammed Muntaka, proposes five major amendments to the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), covering religious, historical, and administrative reforms in the observance of public holidays.
At the heart of the legislation is the reinstatement of July 1st—Republic Day—as a full public holiday, reversing its earlier downgrade to a commemorative day under the Akufo-Addo administration.
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“It restores Republic Day to its rightful place in our national consciousness. July 1st marks Ghana’s transition to a republic in 1960 and deserves full recognition,” Hon. Muntaka stated in the memorandum.
The amendment also introduces Shaqq Day, a new holiday to be observed immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr each year. The government says the addition is a bold step toward religious equity and inclusion.
“This addition recognises the religious and cultural practices of our Muslim brothers and sisters. It promotes unity and inclusiveness,” the Interior Minister explained.
In a historic shift, the Bill removed August 4th as Founder’s Day and instead renamed September 21st (Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day) as Founders’ Day, now a statutory holiday. The government insists this change reflects “historical integrity and national consensus,” asserting that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s role in Ghana’s independence merits unique recognition, while March 6th continues to honour collective contributions.
The Bill also empowers the President to shift holidays that fall midweek—Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays—to the preceding Monday or following Friday, in an effort to boost tourism and productivity. Religious holidays, however, are exempt from this adjustment. Additionally, the President may move weekend holidays to the closest working day, aligning Ghana’s practices with international norms.
With these changes, African Union Day (May 25) now stands as Ghana’s sole commemorative day, following the upgrade of Republic Day and the removal of August 4.
Despite its alignment with the ruling NDC’s 2024 manifesto, the Bill faced strong opposition from the Minority, who decried it as a distraction from pressing national issues.
According to the opposition, in a time of economic hardship, youth unemployment, and unfulfilled reform promises, Parliament was being asked to fast-track a Bill about holidays arguing this is not about inclusion but political optics.