The Government of Ghana has announced a new policy directive stating that all statutory holidays falling on midweek thus Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays will now be observed on Fridays.
This move is part of efforts to improve productivity and ensure a more consistent work schedule across the country.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the change is aimed at minimizing disruptions to the workweek caused by midweek holidays, which often result in reduced productivity and extended unofficial breaks.
The sector Minister, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, announced major changes to Ghana’s public holiday calendar.
Through the Interior Ministry, the government laid before Parliament the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The proposed legislation sought to establish July 1 as a new public holiday and restore the controversial Founder’s Day observance to September 21.
In welcome news for workers, the bill includes provisions to move all midweek holidays (falling on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays) to Fridays.
He said “Mr. Speaker, we are keeping 1st January as New Year Day, 7th January as Constitutional Day, 6th March as Independence Day, March or April for Good Friday for our Christian brothers, March or April as Easter Monday for our Christian brothers, 1st May as Labour Day, 1st July as Republic Day. It was pushed to commemorate it. We believe that this is a very significant day in the life of Ghana that we should not just relegate to the background and therefore we are bringing it back as a full holiday and we believe that as a country we are united around the 1st July.”
However, the Minority in Parliament has strongly objected to the Majority’s decision to fast-track the bill under a certificate of urgency.
Members on the Minority side argued this approach sidelines more pressing national issues that require parliamentary attention.
In the end, Parliament passed the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
While the decision has been welcomed by sections of the business community, some labour groups have expressed concern about the potential erosion of the meaning behind certain national holidays.
