Parliament has passed the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to make changes in the country’s statutory public holidays.
According to the report by the Defence and Interior Committee, the amendment is justified by the need to “reform the holiday framework in a manner that is inclusive, historically accurate, promotes productivity,” among others.
As part of the new law, July 1 will become a public holiday to be observed as Republic Day.
Government has also removed August 4 from the holiday schedule and now renamed the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day as Founder’s Day to be celebrated on September 21.
In a bid to fulfill their campaign promise, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has added an extra holiday for Muslims, named as “Shaqq Day.”
This holiday will be celebrated a day after the Eid ul-Fitr.
What more?
The law states that where a public holiday is to be observed on a Tuesday, a Wednesday or a Thursday, “the President may, by Executive Instrument, declare the public holiday to be observed on the Friday immediately after the Tuesday, or Wednesday or Thursday.”
This, according to the Minister for Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, will help to ensure productivity across the country.
Members of Parliament took turns to debate the relevance of the amendments and the inclusion of an extra holiday for Muslims.
The debate was not without who qualifies to be a founder.
Both sides were split on whether it is appropriate for Founders’ Day to be recognised on the birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president.
