Here is the national calendar of all 2023 public holidays for Ghana. Sometimes dates may be modified as official changes are announced, so please check back regularly for updates.
Holidays in Ghana
We present to you all the public holidays for
Ghana. So you can plan for it.
New Year Holiday
It 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 to 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 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 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 animal. 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 from presents after Christmas day. While a beguiling notion, the
tradition dates back to England in the middle ages, though the exact origin is
debatable.
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