The Government of Ghana has submitted a new bill to Parliament, seeking to amend the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act.
The proposed legislation, titled the Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was formally introduced in Parliament on Wednesday, June 25.
As part of the proposed amendments, the government aims to restore key historical observances and expand recognition of religious holidays.
One major proposal is the decision to reinstate July 1 as Republic Day, marking the day Ghana became a republic. The bill also contains a proposal to introduce a new holiday named Shaqq Day.
If approved, Shaqq Day will be observed the day after Eid-ul-Fitr, providing an additional day for religious reflection and family gatherings for Muslims nationwide.
Meanwhile, the government plans to repeal August 4 as Founders’ Day, a holiday introduced in recent years to honor the collective contributions of Ghana’s independence leaders by the previous government.
Additionally, the bill seeks to restore September 21 as Founder’s Day, previously celebrated in memory of the late first president for his role in the independence struggle.
The bill includes a provision allowing the President to move public holidays falling on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays to either the preceding Friday or following Monday, aiming to improve productivity and planning for government and private institutions.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana