Gov’t proposes two new holidays; August 4 and January 7

Ghanaians may observe January 7, 2019, as a public holiday if Parliament passes an amendment Bill laid before it which also proposes that August 4, be observed as Founders’ Day.

President Akufo Addo in his first State of the Nation address indicated that he intends to initiate a national discussion on a date to be observed as Founders’ Day.

“Mr Speaker, there’s one subject on my mind that I want to put before the House for consideration. I believe in this 60th year of our nation the time is ripe for us to establish consensus on some national issues. It is important for us to have a conversation on how we make things that are of national importance to us all. I speak of the seat of the Presidency and Founders Day. In my view it is not right that 60 years after our independence these matters are still at large.”

Per the details of the bill, the 25th of May currently Africa Unity Day and July 1st which is also Republic Day will become commemorative days but not exactly public holidays.

The bill explains that 4th August is being made a public holiday because, 1897 was when the real fight for independence begun, hence the need to celebrate individuals like Jacob W. Sey, John Mensah Sarbah and others who helped in that particular regard.