Few things reveal a country’s politics like its holiday calendar. In Ghana, arguments over which days deserve a holiday have reflected deeper debates about who founded the nation, which events to celebrate and which to forget. The list has changed several times in the Fourth Republic.
Independence Day
The most important is Independence Day on 6 March, marking the end of British rule in 1957. Parades are held in Accra and across the country, with schoolchildren, security services and cultural groups marching.
Religious holidays
Christian holidays include Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Muslim holidays include Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha. Their dates move with the Islamic calendar and are announced when the moon is sighted.
May Day
Workers’ Day on 1 May is marked with parades organised by trade unions, where leaders raise concerns about pay and working conditions.
Farmers’ Day
National Farmers’ Day, on the first Friday of December, honours farmers and fishermen. Awards are given to the best farmers, with prizes such as houses and vehicles for the national winner.
Founders’ Day debate
In 2019, Parliament changed the holiday law. It made 4 August Founders’ Day, recognising the leaders of the independence movement more broadly, renamed 21 September, Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday, as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day and turned 1 July, Republic Day, into a commemorative day rather than a holiday. Supporters of Nkrumah strongly objected to taking the founder title from him.
Later changes
In 2025, under the new government, Parliament passed the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Act, which removed 4 August as a holiday, restored 21 September as Founder’s Day honouring Nkrumah and made 1 July, Republic Day, a holiday once more. It also created Shaqq Day, a holiday for Muslims the day after Eid al-Fitr, and allowed midweek holidays to be moved to a Friday or Monday. The changes showed how closely holidays track political power.
Other days
Ghana also recognises commemorative days that are not holidays, including days for national heroes and historical events. These are marked by ceremonies rather than days off work.
When a holiday falls on a weekend
When a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the government often declares the following Monday a holiday. Announcements are made by the Interior Ministry.
Business effects
Banks, government offices and many businesses close on public holidays. Businesses sometimes complain about too many holidays, while workers welcome them.
A holiday calendar is supposed to be settled. Ghana’s keeps changing because the country is still arguing about which parts of its past belong to everyone.
