Friday, July 4 Declared Public Holiday – Interior Ministry Confirms
The Ministry of the Interior has officially declared Friday, July 4, 2025, as a public holiday across Ghana. This follows the recent amendment to the country’s holiday framework approved by Parliament.
Republic Day Recognised – Friday Declared for Observance
In a press statement dated June 26, 2025, the Ministry explained that although Republic Day falls on Tuesday, July 1, the holiday will instead be observed on Friday, July 4, by Executive Instrument (E.I.) issued by the President in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2021 (Act 601).
The release, signed by Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, instructed that the holiday be “observed as such throughout the country.”
Changes to Ghana’s Public Holiday Calendar
The announcement follows Parliament’s passage of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which introduced sweeping reforms to Ghana’s statutory holiday schedule.
Key changes include:
- July 1 officially recognised as Republic Day and declared a public holiday.
- August 4 removed from the list of statutory holidays.
- Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day renamed Founder’s Day, to be celebrated on September 21, aligning with the birthday of Ghana’s first President.
- Introduction of a new Muslim holiday, Shaqq Day, to be observed the day after Eid ul-Fitr, fulfilling a campaign promise by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Rationale Behind Holiday Adjustments
According to the Defence and Interior Committee’s report, the reforms aim to “restructure the holiday framework in a manner that is inclusive, historically accurate, and productivity-driven.”
The amended law also gives the President discretionary powers to shift midweek public holidays to the nearest Friday, with the goal of improving productivity and reducing economic disruptions.
Parliamentary Debate and National Significance
Parliament’s debate on the amendments was marked by disagreements over the symbolic significance of holidays—particularly Founder’s Day, with opposing views on whether it should be tied solely to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday or to a collective founding history.
The newly structured holiday schedule is expected to foster national unity, recognise cultural diversity, and reduce midweek disruptions in business and governance.
Read Also: Parliament Amends Public Holidays Law: July 1 Restored, August 4 Scrapped
