Public Holidays in Ghana 2024– Everything You Need to Know

Holidays are an important aspect of our everyday life, as they give people time to relax and re-energize for the tasks ahead. So we’ll be looking at Public Holidays in Ghana in 2023. National holidays are always of national interest and every citizen is expected to observe them.

Ghana National public holiday is not limited to a particular group of persons. It applies to all including schools, government agencies, and private organizations. It’s actually a good thing to have knowledge of these days ahead of time so that you can plan your schedule and activities accordingly.

Public Holidays in Ghana 2024

In 2023, Ghana will have a total of 13 public holidays. Two new public holidays have been added which are Constitution Day which falls on 7th January and Founders’ Day on the 4th of August.

1. New Year’s Day – January 1

This is the first public holiday in the Ghanaian Calendar for 2024. The New Day of the year is generally marked as a public holiday. It is regarded as a universal public holiday. New Year festivities in Ghana are usually marked with fireworks and festivities. However, there is no official state function on January 1 to commemorate this occasion.

2. Constitution Day – January 7

Constitution Day is a newly designated Public Holiday, which will be observed starting on 7 January 2024. This day is set aside to commemorate the adoption of the current constitution on 27 December 1972.

3. Independence Day – March 6

Independence Day can be said to be the most important public holiday in Ghana. It is a special day set aside to commemorate the day Ghana gained independence from the British. The day also incorporates a state function whose main highlight is a speech by the President of Ghana.

4. Good Friday – April 7

Just like many other Christian-dominated countries, Good Friday also features as a public Holiday in the Official Public Holidays 2024 Good Friday forms part of the Easter holiday and is generally the commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The 2024 Easter Friday will fall on April 7.

5. Easter Monday – April 10

Easter Monday is another universal public holiday specific to pre-dominant Christian states. Like Good Friday, Easter Monday does not incorporate any state function though it is considered a public holiday. Easter Monday usually comes after Easter Sunday and commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

6. May Day – May 1

1st of May is set aside worldwide to celebrate working citizens. This day is declared a public holiday in Ghana as well. The day is also known as Labor Day in many countries around the world.

7. Eid-al-Fitr – April 21

Ghana also has a sizeable number of Muslims in its population. The Eid-al-Fitr is an Islamic holiday. It marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated in many countries around the world. This year’s Eid-al-Fitr is scheduled to be held on April 21, however, it is subject to the visibility of the moon.

8. Eid-al-Adha- Feast of Sacrifice – June 28

This is the second most important holiday in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his youngest son. The date for this holiday usually varies with the Islamic calendar. This year’s Eid-al-Adha is scheduled to be held on June 28, however, it is subject to the visibility of the moon.

9. Founder’s Day – August 4

This public holiday falls on the birthday of former president Kwame Nkrumah, a great African personality who helped Ghana achieve its independence and one of its founding fathers. Born on September 1, 1909, in Nkroful, Nkrumah died on April 27, 1972, in Bucharest, Romania.  He was the first prime minister and president of the Republic of Ghana.

10. Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day – September 21st

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day is a public holiday in Ghana. It is celebrated on September 21st. It marks the birth anniversary of the first prime minister and president of Ghana who led the country to independence from the British. This year’s anniversary will be observed on Tuesday, September 21st.

11. Farmer’s Day – December 1

This national holiday is set aside specially to honor farmers in Ghana. The national government usually announces its agricultural plans during this day and also unveils ways to make the cultivation of plants and rearing of animals better for the people. Farmer’s Day is celebrated every first Friday in December.

12. Christmas Day – 25 December

December 25 is a universal public holiday, set aside to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. On this day, Ghanaians commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is usually a day of joy and merriment and is marked by so many activities around the country. While some people usually stay at home and welcome visitors, friends, and loved ones, others take a trip to event centers, amusement parks, entertainment functions, and a whole lot of other places.

13. Boxing Day – December 26

This is another public holiday that features in the Ghanaian calendar. Boxing day is usually celebrated a day after Christmas worldwide. It is a day Ghanaians give back to the less fortunate. The atmosphere is often clouded with excitement and the liveliness of the Yuletide season.

Other Notable Days in Ghana

• Valentine’s/Chocolate Day – Friday, 14th February
• April Fool’s Day – Thursday, 1st April