Public holidays in Ghana in 2026 include statutory national holidays, Christian holidays, Islamic holidays and several additional days formally declared by the President. Ghana’s holiday law was amended in 2025, adding Shaqq Day after Eid-ul-Fitr and restoring Republic Day to the statutory public-holiday calendar. Some Islamic holiday dates are movable and are confirmed during the year in consultation with the Office of the Chief Imam.
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Next Public Holiday in Ghana
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 4, 2026 | Friday | Farmers’ Day | Officially Scheduled |
Public Holidays in Ghana 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Officially Scheduled |
| January 7, 2026 | Wednesday | Constitution Day | Confirmed |
| January 9, 2026 | Friday | Additional Public Holiday for Constitution Day | Confirmed |
| March 6, 2026 | Friday | Independence Day | Officially Scheduled |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | Eid-ul-Fitr | Confirmed |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | Shaqq Day | Confirmed |
| March 23, 2026 | Monday | Additional Public Holiday for Shaqq Day | Confirmed |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Officially Scheduled |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Officially Scheduled |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour Day (Workers’ Day) | Confirmed |
| May 27, 2026 | Wednesday | Eid-ul-Adha | Officially Scheduled |
| July 1, 2026 | Wednesday | Republic Day | Confirmed |
| July 3, 2026 | Friday | Additional Public Holiday for Republic Day | Confirmed |
| September 21, 2026 | Monday | Founder’s Day | Confirmed |
| December 4, 2026 | Friday | Farmers’ Day | Officially Scheduled |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Officially Scheduled |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Boxing Day | Officially Scheduled |
| December 28, 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (Observed) | Officially Scheduled |
How Public Holidays Work in Ghana
Public holidays in Ghana are governed by the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), as amended. A date listed as a statutory public holiday applies throughout the Republic, while the President may also declare additional public holidays by Executive Instrument when required.
Section 2 of the legislation allows the President to declare an additional public holiday in the public interest. This power was used several times during 2026, including for additional holidays connected with Constitution Day, Shaqq Day and Republic Day.
The Ghana Ministry of the Interior is the principal government authority publishing nationwide public-holiday declarations and notices.
Changes to Ghana’s Public Holiday Calendar
Ghana revised its public-holiday framework in 2025. The amended system added Shaqq Day, which is observed immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr, and restored Republic Day on 1 July as a statutory public holiday.
Founder’s Day is observed on 21 September. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed in September 2026 that Founder’s Day is a statutory public holiday to be observed throughout Ghana.
African Union Day remains a commemorative day rather than a statutory public holiday. It should therefore not be added to Ghana’s main nationwide public-holiday database simply because it appears on general calendars.
Constitution Day in Ghana in 2026
Constitution Day falls on 7 January. The Ministry of the Interior stated that Wednesday, 7 January 2026 was Constitution Day and a statutory public holiday.
The President also used an Executive Instrument under Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act to declare Friday, 9 January 2026 as an additional public holiday throughout Ghana.
This means the special 2026 declaration should be distinguished from the underlying statutory date rather than treating the additional Friday as an automatically recurring rule for every year.
Eid-ul-Fitr and Shaqq Day in Ghana
Eid-ul-Fitr and Shaqq Day are statutory public holidays in Ghana, but their calendar dates are not permanently fixed. The Ministry of the Interior states that the applicable dates are determined during the year in connection with the Office of the Chief Imam.
For 2026, Eid-ul-Fitr fell on Friday, 20 March, while Shaqq Day fell on Saturday, 21 March. Because Shaqq Day occurred on a Saturday, Monday, 23 March was formally declared an additional public holiday nationwide.
What is Shaqq Day?
Shaqq Day is the statutory holiday immediately following Eid-ul-Fitr. It was introduced into Ghana’s public-holiday framework as part of the 2025 amendments and provides an additional official holiday connected with the end of Ramadan.
Eid-ul-Adha in Ghana in 2026
Eid-ul-Adha is also a statutory public holiday whose exact date is determined during the year rather than permanently fixed in Ghanaian law. Ghana’s official 2026 diplomatic holiday calendar lists Eid-ul-Adha on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
Future-year Eid dates should not be treated as confirmed solely from calculated religious calendars. The relevant Ghanaian government announcement or official calendar should be used when the date is formally established.
Republic Day in Ghana in 2026
Republic Day falls on 1 July and returned to Ghana’s statutory public-holiday calendar following the 2025 changes.
In 2026, Wednesday, 1 July marked Republic Day. The government subsequently declared Friday, 3 July 2026 as an additional public holiday. The additional Friday was a specific government declaration and should not be assumed to recur automatically in future years.
Founder’s Day in Ghana
Founder’s Day is observed on 21 September. The Ministry of the Interior formally announced that Monday, 21 September 2026 was a statutory public holiday and should be observed throughout Ghana.
The current classification should be distinguished from older Ghana holiday calendars that used different arrangements for Founders’ Day and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day before the holiday framework was amended.
Farmers’ Day in Ghana
Farmers’ Day is one of Ghana’s statutory public holidays and traditionally recognizes the contribution of farmers and fishers to the country’s economy and food supply.
In 2026, Farmers’ Day falls on Friday, 4 December. The date is included in the official Ghana diplomatic holiday calendar for the year.
Christmas and Boxing Day in Ghana in 2026
Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December 2026, while Boxing Day falls on Saturday, 26 December.
The official Embassy of Ghana in Berne 2026 holiday calendar also lists Monday, 28 December as Boxing Day observed for Ghana. This observed date is therefore supported by an official Ghanaian source rather than being inferred solely because Boxing Day falls on a weekend.
What Happens When a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend in Ghana?
A weekend holiday does not create a replacement date merely by assumption. Ghana’s legal framework allows the President to declare additional or substituted holidays by Executive Instrument, and the applicable government announcement should be checked for the year concerned.
This distinction can be seen in 2026. Shaqq Day fell on Saturday, 21 March and Monday, 23 March was expressly declared an additional public holiday. The official 2026 diplomatic calendar also lists Monday, 28 December as the observed day associated with Boxing Day.
Can Ghana Declare Additional Public Holidays?
Yes. Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act allows the President to declare another day a public holiday by Executive Instrument in the public interest.
Additional holiday declarations are year-specific unless the underlying legislation itself changes. VisaBoards therefore treats these dates according to the relevant official declaration rather than assuming that the same arrangement applies every year.
Long Weekends in Ghana in 2026
Several official holidays create extended weekends in Ghana during 2026.
- Constitution Day period: Friday, 9 January was declared an additional public holiday.
- Eid-ul-Fitr and Shaqq Day: Eid-ul-Fitr fell on Friday, 20 March, while Monday, 23 March was declared an additional holiday after Shaqq Day fell on Saturday.
- Easter: Good Friday on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April create a four-day holiday period for people who normally have Saturday and Sunday off.
- Labour Day: Friday, 1 May creates a three-day weekend for workers with a standard Saturday-Sunday weekend.
- Republic Day period: Friday, 3 July was formally declared an additional public holiday following Republic Day.
- Christmas: Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December, Boxing Day falls on Saturday, 26 December, and the official 2026 calendar lists Monday, 28 December as Boxing Day observed.
These examples are based on actual 2026 holiday arrangements. They should not be interpreted as automatic bridge-holiday or substitute-day rules for future years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next public holiday in Ghana?
The next public holiday changes throughout the year. The live VisaBoards section near the top of this page displays the next upcoming holiday from the Ghana public-holiday database.
What is Ghana’s country code?
Ghana’s ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code is GH.
Is Constitution Day a public holiday in Ghana?
Yes. Constitution Day on 7 January is a statutory public holiday. For 2026, the President additionally declared Friday, 9 January as a nationwide public holiday.
What is Shaqq Day in Ghana?
Shaqq Day is a statutory public holiday observed immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr. It was added to Ghana’s holiday framework through amendments introduced in 2025.
When was Shaqq Day observed in 2026?
Shaqq Day fell on Saturday, 21 March 2026. Because it fell on Saturday, Monday, 23 March was separately declared an additional public holiday.
When is Eid-ul-Adha in Ghana in 2026?
Ghana’s official 2026 diplomatic holiday calendar lists Eid-ul-Adha on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
Is Republic Day a public holiday in Ghana?
Yes. Republic Day on 1 July is part of Ghana’s statutory public-holiday framework following the 2025 amendments. Friday, 3 July was also declared an additional public holiday in 2026.
Is African Union Day a public holiday in Ghana?
No. African Union Day is classified as a commemorative day rather than a statutory public holiday under Ghana’s official holiday framework.
When is Farmers’ Day in Ghana in 2026?
Farmers’ Day falls on Friday, 4 December 2026 and is included in Ghana’s official public-holiday calendar.
Is Monday, 28 December 2026 a holiday in Ghana?
Yes. The official 2026 holiday calendar published by the Embassy of Ghana in Berne lists Monday, 28 December as Boxing Day observed for Ghana.
Who announces public holidays in Ghana?
The Ministry of the Interior publishes Ghana’s statutory public-holiday notices and government declarations. Additional or substituted holidays may be declared by the President through an Executive Instrument under the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act.
Are Eid dates fixed in Ghana?
No. Eid-ul-Fitr, Shaqq Day and Eid-ul-Adha are movable holidays. Ghana’s Ministry of the Interior states that their dates are determined in connection with the Office of the Chief Imam during the relevant year.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Ghana
- Ghana Ministry of the Interior: the principal government authority for statutory public-holiday notices and additional holiday declarations.
- Ministry of the Interior – Updated Statutory Holidays and Commemorative Days: confirms the revised statutory framework, including Shaqq Day, Republic Day and Founder’s Day.
- Ministry of the Interior – Constitution Day 2026 Declaration: confirms Constitution Day and the additional 9 January 2026 public holiday.
- Ministry of the Interior – Founder’s Day 2026 Declaration: confirms 21 September 2026 as a statutory public holiday throughout Ghana.
- Embassy of Ghana in Berne – Public Holidays 2026: provides Ghana’s official 2026 diplomatic holiday calendar, including Eid dates, Farmers’ Day, Christmas, Boxing Day and the observed Boxing Day date.
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