Here are the national public holidays in Ghana with a vivid explanation of why it’s celebrated and everything you need to know about the Holiday
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Holidays in Ghana
We present to you all the public holidays in Ghana. So you can plan for it.
New Year Holiday
It is a day to mark the beginning of the year. It’s observed all over the world
Constitution Day Holiday
Every 7 January in Ghana is a national public holiday known as Constitution Day. The holiday is meant to commemorate the institution of a new constitution and the fourth republic on 7 January 1993.
Independence Day
Ghana celebrates is Independence Day every 6 March, commemorating the day in 1957 when it ended its status as a British colony. Led by Kwame Nkrumah and the other members of “The Big Six”, Ghana successfully won its freedom after a decade-long campaign of the United Gold Coast Convention between 1947 and 1957
Easter Holidays
In Ghana, Easter is celebrated as in much of the rest of the Christian world. It’s always celebrated in April. However, unlike the West, the commercialised aspects of Easter are conspicuously absent. Instead, there is a religious emphasis on Easter time, with some cultural activities mixed in as well
Most churches in Ghana will hold services on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday during Holy Week, while Presbyterian churches tend to also hold a gospel outreach service on Easter Monday.
Charismatic churches typically hold large conventions or special Easter retreats and prayer meetings that last a whole day or longer. And it is also common for the youth of different denominations to go to “Easter camp” this time of year.
Eid Al-Fitr Holiday
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims in Ghana with much religious fervour and general merriment.
The national holiday comes on the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, immediately following the holy month of Ramadan and a month-long period of fasting, prayer and devotion. It is one of the most important of all Muslim commemorations.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Islamic month of fasting and prayer called Ramadan. It is a time of celebration, visitation of family and friends, feasting, mini-vacations, and giving food or money to the poor. Many in Ghana will attend communal prayer sessions at a local mosque.
May Day (Workers Day)
May Day is a public holiday in Ghana that occurs every year on 1 May. In other parts of the world, it is also called Labour Day or International Workers’ Day
The main event on Labour Day in Ghana is a big parade put on by the Trade Union Congress. It involves both trade unions and the military, and the event is a major spectacle that people look forward to seeing each year.
Africa Unity Day
Ghana celebrates Africa Unity Day as a commemorative holiday every 25 May to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity on 24 May in the year 1963. Today, this organisation is called The African Union.
Note: Africa Unity Day is a Commemorative Day, hence they are not observed as public holidays.
Eid al-Adha
In Ghana, Eid al-Adha is kept up by all Muslims as the most important holiday of the year. It is known as “big Eid” in contrast to Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan and is called “little Eid”
For “big Eid”, Ghana’s Muslims will sacrifice a sheep, goat, cow, or other livestock animals. The meat is divided in thirds, one-third each to be given to family, friends, and to the poor. A special donation to the poor to help them buy new clothes and food for Eid al-Adha is also mandatory.
Muslims will gather at mosques for prayer on Eid al-Adha, then go home to feast and celebrate with family and friends. They may also exchange gifts on Eid al-Adha.
Republic Day
In the West African nation of Ghana, every 1 July is Republic Day to commemorate the establishment of Ghana as an independent republic in 1960.
Note: Republic Day is a Commemorative Day, hence it is not observed as a public holiday
Founder’s Day
Since 2019, Ghana has celebrated Founder’s Day on 4 August and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day on 21 September. Formerly, Founder’s Day was on 21 September instead.
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day
Every 21 September is Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day in Ghana. This holiday commemorates the birthday of Ghana’s main independence leader, first prime minister, and first president, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah.
Farmers’ Day
National Farmers Day in Ghana is celebrated on the first Friday of December each year to recognise the contributions of farmers and fishers in the country. The holiday is designed to pay respect to the importance of the farming and fishing industry in the socio-economic growth of Ghana.
Christmas
In Ghana, the Christmas season runs from 20 December through the first week in January, with a public holiday observed every 25 December for Christmas Day. It is a time full of celebration, and many people will visit relatives living in other parts of the country during this season.
Boxing Day
This public holiday is celebrated on December 26th in several countries as part of the Christmas holidays. Typically it will be moved and celebrated on the next working day if December 26th is a Saturday or Sunday.
It has been said that the name of Boxing Day comes from people getting rid of empty boxes of presents after Christmas day. While a beguiling notion, the tradition dates back to England in the middle ages, though the exact origin is debatable.
