Accra, June 26, 2025 — The Ministry of the Interior has officially declared Friday, July 4, 2025 a public holiday, following recent amendments to Ghana’s national holiday framework passed by Parliament.
The announcement was made through a press release signed by the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, and issued on Wednesday, June 26.
According to the statement, although Tuesday, July 1 marks Republic Day, the President—acting under Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2021 (Act 601)—has used an Executive Instrument (E.I.) to shift the observance to Friday, July 4, for national convenience and productivity.
“The general public is hereby informed that Tuesday, 1st July 2025, is Republic Day. However, by Executive Instrument, Friday, 4th July 2025, has been declared a public holiday and should be observed as such across the country,” the release stated.
Major Changes to Ghana’s Holiday Calendar
This declaration follows Parliament’s recent passage of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025 on June 25, signaling a significant shift in the way public holidays are structured in Ghana.
Republic Day (July 1) is now a statutory public holiday.
August 4 has been removed from the national holiday list.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day has been renamed Founder’s Day, and will now be celebrated on September 21.
A new Muslim holiday, Shaqq Day, has been introduced and will be observed the day after Eid ul-Fitr.
Additionally, the amendment grants the President authority to reschedule holidays that fall mid-week to the nearest Friday, to support national productivity.
“The flexibility to shift holidays from mid-week to Fridays ensures minimal disruption to economic activities while still preserving the significance of these commemorations,” said Minister Muntaka Mubarak.
Parliamentary Debate: Who is Ghana’s True Founder?
The reforms were not passed without intense debate in Parliament. Lawmakers deliberated extensively over the designation of September 21 as Founder’s Day, reigniting long-standing discussions over whether Ghana’s independence should be credited solely to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah or to a collective group of leaders.
Despite the partisan divide, the bill passed with majority support from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), which has long advocated for a more inclusive and modernized holiday system.
Outlook
These changes mark a significant departure from previous holiday structures and reflect the government’s commitment to balancing national heritage with contemporary social and religious realities. The inclusion of Shaqq Day, in particular, fulfills a key NDC campaign promise to recognize Ghana’s Muslim population with an additional public holiday.
Ghanaians are now expected to observe the upcoming Friday, July 4 as a nationwide holiday, with offices, schools, and businesses set to close for the day.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Gumedzo Isaac Acheampong
