Ghana Public Holidays 2025
Ghana observes statutory public holidays under the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), as amended by Act 1142 in 2025. Key updates for 2025 include the official reinstatement of Republic Day (July 1) as a statutory holiday and the removal of August 4. Under Section 3 of Act 601, holidays falling on a weekend are substituted by executive instrument to the following Monday, while the President may also substitute Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday holidays to adjacent Mondays or Fridays.
At a glance
Ghana has 15 official public holidays (15 days off) in 2025 and 6 long weekends; the longest break is Eid-Ul-Fitr & Shaqq Day (Mar 29 – Apr 1, 4 days).
| Public holidays | 15 |
|---|---|
| Total days off | 15 |
| Longest break | Eid-Ul-Fitr & Shaqq Day · 4 days (Mar 29 – Apr 1) |
| Long weekends | 6 |
Official public holidays
New Year's Day (January 1, 2025), Constitution Day (January 7, 2025), Independence Day (March 6, 2025), Eid-Ul-Fitr (March 31, 2025), Shaqq Day (April 1, 2025), Good Friday (April 18, 2025), Easter Monday (April 21, 2025), Workers’ Day (May Day) (May 1, 2025), Eid-Ul-Adha (June 6, 2025), Republic Day (July 1, 2025), Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day (Founder's Day) (September 21, 2025), Founder's Day (Observed) (September 22, 2025), National Farmers' Day (December 5, 2025), Christmas Day (December 25, 2025), Boxing Day (December 26, 2025)
Ghana public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | Wednesday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| January 7, 2025 | Tuesday | Constitution DayCelebrates the 1993 Fourth Republican Constitution. Falls on Tuesday in 2025.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| March 6, 2025 | Thursday | Independence DayMarks freedom from British rule in 1957. Falls on Thursday in 2025.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| March 31, 2025 | Monday | Eid-Ul-FitrMarks the end of Ramadan. Date confirmed following crescent moon sighting by the Chief Imam.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 1, 2025 | Tuesday | Shaqq DayOfficial public holiday in Ghana immediately following Eid-Ul-Fitr.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 18, 2025 | Friday | Good FridayFalls on Friday, opening a four-day nationwide Easter weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 21, 2025 | Monday | Easter MondayStatutory holiday closing the Easter holiday break.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2025 | Thursday | Workers’ Day (May Day)Celebrates workers’ contributions. Falls on Thursday in 2025.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 6, 2025 | Friday | Eid-Ul-AdhaFeast of the Sacrifice. Gazetted by the Ministry of the Interior for Friday June 6, 2025, creating a three-day weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| July 1, 2025 | Tuesday | Republic DayReinstated as a statutory public holiday by the 2025 amendment (Act 1142). Commemorates the 1960 declaration of the First Republic.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| September 21, 2025 | Sunday | Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day (Founder's Day)Honours Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President. Falls on Sunday in 2025, observed on Monday September 22 under Act 601.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| September 22, 2025 | Monday | Founder's Day (Observed)Official in-lieu public holiday declared because September 21 fell on a Sunday.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 5, 2025 | Friday | National Farmers' DayHeld on the first Friday in December to recognise agricultural contributions, creating a three-day weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2025 | Thursday | Christmas DayFalls on Thursday in 2025, leading into Boxing Day on Friday.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 26, 2025 | Friday | Boxing DayFalls on Friday, completing a four-day holiday weekend through Sunday Dec 28.Public holiday | Public holiday |
Statutory public holidays
14 days
Reinstated in 2025
Republic Day (Jul 1)
Weekend substitutions
Yes (Monday substitute)
Commemorative days
AU Day (May 25)
2025 Ghana calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
Ghana long weekends in 2025
Eid-Ul-Fitr & Shaqq Day
4 daysMar 29 – Apr 1
Easter long weekend
4 daysApr 18 – 21
Four-day break from Good Friday through Easter Monday.
Eid-Ul-Adha weekend
3 daysJun 6 – 8
Friday holiday gazetted by the Ministry of the Interior, creating a three-day break.
Founder’s Day weekend
3 daysSep 20 – 22
September 21 Sunday holiday observed on Monday September 22.
Farmers’ Day weekend
3 daysDec 5 – 7
First Friday in December delivers a three-day weekend.
Christmas & Boxing Day
4 daysDec 25 – 28
Thursday Christmas and Friday Boxing Day lead directly into the weekend for a four-day celebration.
Legal framework: Act 601 and the 2025 Amendment (Act 1142)
Public holidays in Ghana are regulated by the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601). In 2025, parliament passed the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1142), assented to by the President. This historic legislation reintroduced July 1 (Republic Day) as a full statutory public holiday and formally excised August 4 from the calendar.
Substituted holidays and weekend spillover rules
Under Section 3(2) of Act 601 (as amended), where a statutory holiday falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the President may by executive instrument declare the following Monday a public holiday. Furthermore, where a holiday falls on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, the President possesses statutory authority to substitute Monday or Friday as a public holiday, though this does not apply to religious feasts (Eid or Christmas).
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Official sources & data
- Ministry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana — Statutory Public Holidays and Commemorative Days for 2025Visit sourceMinistry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana
- Ministry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana — Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1142)Visit sourceMinistry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana
- Parliament of Ghana — Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601)Visit sourceParliament of Ghana
Frequently asked questions
How many statutory public holidays are celebrated in Ghana in 2025?
Ghana observes 13 regular statutory public holidays plus one official observed substitution day for Founder’s Day, totaling 14 gazetted days off in 2025.
What is the longest holiday break in Ghana in 2025?
The longest break in Ghana is Eid-Ul-Fitr & Shaqq Day (Mar 29 – Apr 1, 4 days).
What are the official public holidays in Ghana in 2025?
Ghana has 15 official public holidays in 2025: New Year's Day (January 1, 2025), Constitution Day (January 7, 2025), Independence Day (March 6, 2025), Eid-Ul-Fitr (March 31, 2025), Shaqq Day (April 1, 2025), Good Friday (April 18, 2025), Easter Monday (April 21, 2025), Workers’ Day (May Day) (May 1, 2025), Eid-Ul-Adha (June 6, 2025), Republic Day (July 1, 2025), Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day (Founder's Day) (September 21, 2025), Founder's Day (Observed) (September 22, 2025), National Farmers' Day (December 5, 2025), Christmas Day (December 25, 2025), Boxing Day (December 26, 2025).
Is Republic Day (July 1) a public holiday in Ghana in 2025?
Yes. Following the enactment of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1142), July 1 Republic Day was officially reinstated as a statutory public holiday.
What happened to the August 4 holiday in Ghana?
Under the 2025 Amendment Act (Act 1142), August 4 has been removed from the statutory public holiday list. Ghana commemorates Kwame Nkrumah on Founder’s Day on September 21.
How are Islamic holidays (Eid-Ul-Fitr and Eid-Ul-Adha) fixed in Ghana?
Because Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar, exact observation dates are provided by the Office of the National Chief Imam during the year and proclaimed via Ministry of the Interior gazette notices.
Is African Union Day (May 25) an official day off in Ghana in 2025?
No. African Union Day on May 25 is designated as a Commemorative Day under Ghanaian law, but the Ministry of the Interior explicitly notes that commemorative days are not observed as public holidays.
