Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka
Parliament has passed the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, officially establishing Shaqq Day as a new statutory public holiday.
This move is part of a broader legislative reform to the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), which also reinstates Republic Day on July 1 as a public holiday.
Shaqq Day will be observed annually on the day immediately following Eid-ul-Fitr, a major Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan.
The Minister for Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka said the introduction of this holiday fulfils a key pledge in the 2024 election manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and honours the public commitment of President John Dramani Mahama to promote religious inclusivity.
In presenting the Bill to Parliament, he emphasised that the amendment reflects Ghana’s evolving social fabric and commitment to equitable recognition of the country’s diverse religious and cultural identities.
“This amendment is a progressive step toward religious equity,” the minister noted.
“It acknowledges the significance of the Muslim community in our national life and ensures their practices are respected and celebrated,” he said.
Republic Day Restored
Another major highlight of the bill is the restoration of Republic Day (July 1) as a statutory public holiday. The day, which previously held only commemorative status, marks Ghana’s transition to a republic in 1960. Members of the Majority described the change as a move to restore the significance of a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.
Founders’ Day Realigned
The bill also makes significant changes to national holidays related to Ghana’s independence history.
The celebration of Founders’ Day on August 4 has been removed as a public holiday.
Instead, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day on September 21 has been renamed Founders’ Day and elevated as the day to honour Ghana’s first President and his central role in the independence movement.
Mr. Muntaka said this change “restores historical integrity” and reflects the national consensus on Nkrumah’s leadership, while acknowledging that collective efforts in the independence struggle are already celebrated on Independence Day (March 6).
Holiday Flexibility for Productivity
Additionally, the bill empowers the President to shift the observance of certain midweek holidays to the preceding Monday or following Friday — a measure intended to enhance productivity and boost tourism.
However, this provision will not apply to religious holidays such as Eid, Christmas, or the newly added Shaqq Day.
Under the amendment, if a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the President can declare the following Monday or preceding Friday as the day of observance.
He argued that this aligns Ghana’s holiday practices with international best practices that seek to minimise workplace disruption and improve work-life balance.
With the passage of the bill, the First Schedule of Act 601 has been revised to include Shaqq Day and Republic Day as public holidays, while Republic Day has been removed from the commemorative list, leaving African Union Day (May 25).
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House