List Of Public Holidays In Ghana

Updated list of Public And National Holidays In Ghana. There are quite a number of public and national holidays in Ghana that you will get to know about in this post. Carefully take note of the dates that these holidays will be in effect. 

Each public holiday comes with its significance hence, more lights will be thrown on why those holidays are been celebrated in Ghana.

Public Holidays In Ghana

Ghana is a sovereign country located on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Ghana can be found in the Western part of Africa.

Ghana is one of the renowned countries in Africa. This is due to the country’s considerable natural wealth, its riveting repository of cultural heritage and perhaps, it was the first black African country in south of the Sahara to attain independence from colonial rule on March 6, 1957.

Public Holidays In Ghana And Their Dates

The table below provides you with the dates for the various public and national holidays in Ghana.

New Year’s Day –  1st January

Constitution Day – 7th January

Independence Day –  6th March

Good Friday – 15th April

Easter Monday – 18th April

May Day/Workers’ Day –  1st May

Eid al-Fitr – 3rd May*

Eid al-Adha – 10th July*

Founders’ Day – 4th August

Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day –  21st September

Farmers’ Day – 2nd December

Christmas Day – 25th December

Boxing Day – 26th December

Significance Of Public Holidays In Ghana

New Year’s Day

With respect to the Gregorian calendar, the “New Year’s Day” is the initial day of the year, that is, a week just after the Christmas Day of the previous year. In most countries, it is celebrated on January 1st. 

In and of itself, aside Ghana, “New Year’s Day” is a public holiday in all other countries that conform to the Gregorian calendar. Take note, Israel is an exception, it does not partake in the observation of this public holiday. 

Statistically, New Year’s Day is the most observed public holiday in the world. In Ghana, New Year is depicted by (family) convocations and shindig.

Constitution Day

Constitution Day is a ratified public holiday in Ghana, commemorated on January 7th. Constitutional Day marks the coming into existence of the 1992 Constitution and the rise of the Fourth Republic on this day in 1993.

The 1992 Constitution was birth for the Fourth Republic of Ghana, on January 7th 1993, after its overpowering approval in a referendum held on April 28th 1992. The maiden observation of the Constitution Day as a public holiday took place on January 7th 2019. 

The Constitution Day came into effect to remind Ghanaians of their allegiance to defend the tenets of the rule of law, constitutionalism and democracy.

Independence Day

Independence Day is another vital public holiday in Ghana. The holiday is observed on 6th of March and, it is intended to commemorate Ghana’s independence from colonial masters, the United Kingdom in 1957.

Good Friday

Good Friday is observed in Ghana and other many countries as a public holiday on the Friday before Easter. Good Friday is celebrated to remember the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

Easter Monday

Easter is also known as Pascha. Easter Monday is one of the most eventful holidays in the Christian faith. Mostly commemorated in March/April each year, reminiscing the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Labour Day

Labour Day is also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day. To be specific, this is an international holiday and it is celebrated on May 1 to commemorate the efforts of the International Labour Movement. Labour Day is celebrated to recognize workers and laborers.

Eid al-Fitr

Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Fast-breaking, is a vital religious holiday celebrated by Muslims across the world to mark the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.

Since the date of Eid relies on the sighting of the moon, there may be differences in the actual date that is celebrated around the world. 

Please read about the others here