We’ll Soon Restore July 1 as a Public Holiday- Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to reviewing the country’s Republic Holidays Act to restore July 1 as a statutory public holiday.
In April 2019, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo gave his assent to the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2019, (Act 989) which rendered some changes to the country’s Statutory Public Holidays and Commemorative Days.
As part of the amendment, July 1 Republic Day holiday was made a commemorative day.
The current president opposed the move while in opposition, once describing the move as “regrettable”.
Speaking at his Thank You tour to the Western Region on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, President Mahama said the holiday would be restored.
“We will soon present to Parliament amendments to the Public Holidays Act in order that we can restore July 1 as a holiday.”
The day, he said, would be observed as a day of thanksgiving.
“We will have the opportunity soon as a nation to pray and give thanks to the Almighty God, as enjoined by the Holy Book that says, ‘In all things, give thanks’… We will thank God for His beautiful blessings on our nation, Ghana, and I will soon announce a planning committee made up of religious leaders to plan the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.”
The review his government seeks to undertake will also accommodate an extension of holidays for Muslim communities during Eid festivals.
“In the amendments of the Republic Holidays Act, we shall also make provisions to fulfil our promise to the Muslim community of an extra holiday to mark the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Fitr.”
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
