Public Holidays in Ghana 2025 – National & Religious Calendar
Ghana recognizes a set of statutory public holidays and commemorative days each year. These include national anniversaries, Christian holidays, and Islamic observances whose dates shift with the lunar calendar. Government institutions, banks, and many businesses close on statutory holidays. Some commemorative days are observed culturally but are not full public holidays. The 2025 list is published by Ghana’s Ministry of the Interior.
Overview of Public Holidays in Ghana
Ghana’s public holidays include fixed-date national celebrations (e.g., Independence Day, Constitution Day), Christian holidays tied to Easter, and Islamic holidays that depend on moon sighting (Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Shaqq Day). Commemorative days like African Union Day are acknowledged but not always treated as non-working holidays.
Statutory Public Holidays in Ghana (2025)
| Holiday | Date (2025) | Day | Notes / Observance |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Wednesday | Standard Gregorian new year holiday |
| Constitution Day | January 7 | Tuesday | Marks the 1992 constitution establishment |
| Independence Day | March 6 | Thursday | Commemoration of Ghana’s independence (1957) |
| Good Friday | April 18 | Friday | Christian observance before Easter |
| Easter Monday | April 21 | Monday | Christian holiday following Easter Sunday |
| Labour Day / Workers’ Day | May 1 | Thursday | International workers’ day |
| Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan) | No fixed date (movable) | — | Date announced by Chief Imam; includes Shaqq Day (day after) |
| Eid ul-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) | No fixed date (movable) | — | Date announced by Chief Imam |
| Republic Day | July 1 | Tuesday | Celebration of Ghana becoming a republic in 1960 |
| Founders’ Day | September 21 | Sunday | Honors founding fathers (Big Six) |
| Farmers’ Day | First Friday of December (Dec 5 in 2025) | Friday | Annual recognition of farmers & fishermen |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Thursday | Christian holiday celebrating birth of Jesus |
| Boxing Day | December 26 | Friday | Second day of Christmas |
Commemorative Days
Ghana also has commemorative days that are recognized culturally but are not statutory non-working days. For example, African Union Day (May 25) is a commemorative day.
Substitution / “Substituted” Holidays Rule
Under Ghanaian law, when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the President may, by executive instrument, declare the following Monday as a public holiday. Also, for holidays falling midweek (Tuesday–Thursday), a Monday or Friday may be declared as substitution. However, these substitution rules do not apply to Eid ul-Fitr, Shaqq Day, Eid ul-Adha, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day.
Religious & Cultural Significance
Christian holidays (Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas) reflect Ghana’s Christian community. Islamic holidays (Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Shaqq Day) are observed by the Muslim population and are based on lunar sighting announcements. National holidays like Independence Day, Constitution Day, Founders’ Day, and Republic Day celebrate Ghana’s political history and sovereignty. Farmers’ Day honors the agricultural backbone of Ghana’s economy.
Public Observance & Closures
On statutory public holidays, government institutions, banks, schools, and many private businesses close. In practice, announcements for movable holidays (Eid) are made ahead of time by Islamic authorities in Ghana. Where substitution is declared, the Monday following a weekend holiday may be a non-working day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many public holidays does Ghana have in 2025?
Ghana has 14 statutory public holidays in 2025 (including movable Islamic holidays).
Do Islamic holiday dates (Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha) shift every year?
Yes. Their dates follow the Islamic lunar calendar and are announced by the Chief Imam before observance.
What happens if a holiday falls on a weekend?
The President may declare a substitution (usually Monday) for most holidays falling on Saturday or Sunday. But substitution rules do not apply to Eid ul-Fitr, Shaqq Day, Eid ul-Adha, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day.
What is Founders’ Day in Ghana?
Founders’ Day (Sept 21) honors Ghana’s founding leaders (Big Six) for their role in the independence movement.
Conclusion
Public holidays in Ghana weave together religious observance, national history, and cultural recognition. Whether marking Easter, Eid, independence, or the contributions of farmers and nation builders, these days punctuate Ghana’s public calendar each year.
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