Ghana Public Holidays
Whether you are a local searching for a short break or an international traveler, Public Holiday Info Portal is here to help you start planning your vacation
A public holiday, national holiday or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year. This page contains public holidays sorted by years. Holiday dates may be change from time to time, so please check back regularly for updates. Scroll down to view the national holidays and short description of each holiday.The Republic of Ghana is a country located in Western Africa. Ghana currently has 13 national holidays that are recognised and celebrated each year. Some of the holidays that are celebrated in Ghana are based on religious beliefs. These holidays often change in date each year because their celebrations are based on the lunar cycle. Government of Ghana normally announces exact dates for the national holidays at the end of the year for the following year.
National holidays are regulated by the Holiday Act of 2001. Under this law, national holidays are classified as paid, non-working days throughout the country. Under the Labor Act of 2003, employers who require people to remain at work on a paid holiday must provide that employee with a substitute paid day off to replace the time missed for the actual holiday.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Sun | New Year's Day - First day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar |
| 2 Jan | Mon | New Year's Day Holiday - Public Holiday as New Year's Day falls on a Sunday |
| 6 Mar | Mon | Independence Day - Ghana proclaimed its independence from the United Kingdom on this day in 1957 |
| 14 Apr | Fri | Good Friday - Friday before Easter Sunday. Commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary |
| 17 Apr | Mon | Easter Monday - Monday after Easter Sunday. Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead |
| 1 May | Mon | May Day / Labour Day - Annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers |
| 25 May | Thurs | Africa Day / African Liberation Day - This date commemorates two event, Africa Day and African Liberation Day. Both of the event are for the purpose of establishment of the Organization of African Unity |
| 26 Jun | Mon | Eid ul-Fitr - End of Ramadan. Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (Sawm) to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad according to Islamic belief |
| 1 Jul | Sat | Republic Day - This holiday celebrates the day, when Prime Minister of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah proclaimed a republic and became its first president. Ghana became a republic on 1 July 1960 |
| 1 Sept | Fri | Eid Al-Adha - Feast of the Sacrifice. Commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son. Date varies on Lunar cycle |
| 21 Sept | Thurs | Founder's Day - Commemorates the birthday of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President. If 21 September falls on a weekend, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday |
| 1 Dec | Fri | Farmer's Day - Honors Ghana's farmers and fishers and their contribution to the nation's socioeconomic development. 1st Friday in December |
| 25 Dec | Mon | Christmas Day - Christians celebrate the birth of Christ |
| 26 Dec | Tue | Boxing Day - The original concept of Boxing Day was to open wooden box or clay containers where people placed gifts and share gifts with the less fortunate |
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Thurs | New Year's Day |
| 6 Mar | Fri | Independence Day |
| 3 Apr | Fri | Good Friday |
| 6 Apr | Mon | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Fri | Labour Day |
| 25 May | Mon | African Unity Day |
| 1 Jul | Wed | Republic Day |
| 18 Jul | Sat | Eid ul-Fitr - End of Ramadam |
| 21 Sept | Mon | Founders Day |
| 23 Sept | Wed | Eid Al-Adha |
| 4 Dec | Fri | Farmer's Day |
| 25 Dec | Fri | Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Sat | Boxing Day |
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Fri | New Year's Day |
| 6 Mar | Sun | Independence Day |
| 25 Mar | Fri | Good Friday |
| 28 Mar | Mon | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Sun | Labour Day |
| 25 May | Wed | African Unity Day |
| 1 Jul | Fri | Republic Day |
| 6 Jul | Wed | Eid ul-Fitr - End of Ramadam |
| 11 Sept | Sun | Eid Al-Adha |
| 21 Sept | Wed | Founder's Day |
| 2 Dec | Fri | Farmer's Day |
| 25 Dec | Sun | Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Mon | Boxing Day |
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Mon | New Year's Day |
| 6 Mar | Tue | Independence Day (Independence from the United Kingdom in 1957) |
| 30 Mar | Fri | Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday) |
| 2 Apr | Mon | Easter Monday (Monday after Easter Sunday) |
| 1 May | Tue | May Day (International Labour Day) |
| 25 May | Fri | African Unity Day |
| 15 Jun | Fri | Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
| 1 Jul | Sun | Republic Day (Ghana became a republic on 1 July 1960) |
| 22 Aug | Wed | Eid Al-Adha (Date varies on Lunar cycle) |
| 21 Sept | Fri | Founder's Day (Birthday of Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah) |
| 7 Dec | Fri | Farmer's Day (1st Friday in December) |
| 25 Dec | Tue | Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Wed | Boxing Day |
