President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to reinstate Republic Day as a national holiday and introduce an additional public holiday for Eid al-Fitr.
During his thank-you tour in the Western Region on February 5, Mahama revealed that his administration would amend the Public Holidays Act to reinstate July 1 as a national holiday. This date marks Ghana’s transition to self-governance under its constitution.
Mahama also reaffirmed his promise to the Muslim community by proposing an official holiday for Eid al-Fitr.
He outlined plans to establish a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, to be observed on July 1, aligning with Senior Citizens’ Day.
“We will have an opportunity as a nation soon to pray and give thanks to the almighty God,” Mahama said. “We will thank God for his blessing on our nation Ghana.”
Mahama assured Ghanaians of his commitment to fulfilling his campaign pledges. “I proposed that this national day of prayer and thanksgiving should be held on the first of July,” he added.
The president announced plans to present an amendment to the Public Holiday Act to parliament.
“In the amendment of the Public Holiday Act, we shall also make provision to fulfil our promise to the Muslim community of an extra holiday to mark the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr,” he said.
Mahama expressed gratitude to the people of the Western Region for their support. “I am here to say thank you to all the hundreds of people who voted for me here in the Western region,” he said. “I am here to reaffirm my commitment to honouring the trust and confidence you have imposed on me.”