The government has declared Friday, January 9, 2026, as a statutory public holiday to be observed nationwide.

This was announced in an official statement issued signed and signed by the Ministry of Interior, led by Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak (MP) on Friday, January 2, 2026.

The holiday is set to mark the celebration of Constitution Day on Wednesday, 7th January 2026.

However, since it falls on a midweek, "His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, acting by Executive Instrument (E.I.) and in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), as amended, has designated Friday, January 9, as the day to be observed as a public holiday."

The declaration of January 9th as a holiday instead of the original date, January 7, comes on the back of recent amendments to the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, following the passage of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by Parliament under a certificate of urgency.

Following the passage of the Bill, the list of holidays has been reviewed, with the introduction of a new holiday called Shaqq Day, which has been added for Muslims, and it will be observed one day after Eid-ul-Fitr.

September 21, which also happens to be another holiday, earmarked to celebrate Founders’has been brought back as a public holiday, while August 4 is no longer a statutory holiday.

The Interior Minister explained that the government reviewed all public holidays to reduce their number and keep only those that most people agree with. Holidays that caused disagreements were removed, while widely accepted ones were retained.

Mr Muntaka said the government would maintain January 1 as New Year’s Day, January 7 as Constitution Day, March 6 as Independence Day, Good Friday and Easter Monday for Christians, May 1 as Labour Day and July 1 as Republic Day.

Significance of Constitution Day

Constitution Day marks the day Ghana’s 1992 Constitution officially started working, which led to the birth of the Fourth Republic. Although Ghanaians approved the Constitution in a referendum in April 1992, it officially took effect on January 7, 1993, and it is still the highest law in the country.

January 7 is also important because it is the day newly elected Presidents are sworn into office during election years, making it a key date in Ghana’s democracy.

People across the country are therefore asked to recognise and observe the holiday as declared.

The January holiday marks the second holiday in 2026 and the third after the last holiday in December.

The Interior Ministry declared Friday, December 5, a statutory public holiday. The announcement was made through an official statement dated Friday, November 28 and signed by the Minister of Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka.

According to the statement, December 5th has been earmarked to celebrate farmers nationwide.

It read, “The General Public is hereby informed that Friday, 5th December, 2025, which marks FARMERS DAY, is a Statutory Public Holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country”.

In Ghana, Farmers’ Day is celebrated annually on the first Friday of December to acknowledge and celebrate farmers across the country for their significant contributions to national development, particularly in terms of food security and economic growth.

It is also observed as a statutory public holiday nationwide, where the nation dedicates the day to the farmers. Members of Parliament, both government and private workers, all stay away from work as a sign to join the nation in celebrating farmers in the country.

Consequently, Parliament announced it will not sit on that day, allowing MPs and citizens to join in honouring farmers.

On the day of the celebration, a grand national durbar is held in a selected region, where outstanding farmers and fishers are awarded prizes ranging from cash rewards, farming equipment and tools, vehicles, and even houses. In some cases, awardees also receive sponsored trips to exciting destinations as part of efforts to celebrate their excellence in agriculture.

Awards are given at district, regional, and national levels, with the national award being the most prestigious.

Last year’s theme, according to reports, was “Eat Ghana, Grow Ghana, Secure the Future.” The national event will be hosted in Ho, in the Volta Region.

Mostly, these farmers are awarded for productivity, innovation, environmental sustainability, and contribution to community development.

Last year, Nana Owusu Achiaw (Sekyere Central District, Ashanti Region) was adjudged the 2024 National Best Farmer award because of his success in mixed farming, combining crops, livestock, plantations, and agro‑forestry. His winning the award was also influenced by his adoption of climate‑smart, innovative practices. His farms created employment for 150–168 workers in Sekyere. He received GH¢1 million cash prize sponsored by ADB.

Ernestina Osei Tutu from the Akwapim North Municipality in the Eastern Region was adjudged the National Best Female Farmer.

Ms Tutu received a cash prize of GH¢200,000 sponsored by the government, as well as a standard tractor and accessories provided by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Also, for the female best farmer, she was also allowed to undergo a capacity building training and a study tour of the country.