Zongo community residents are allegedly being denied passports, national IDs, including Ghana cards due to their names, according to the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso East, Mohammed Baba Jamal Ahmed.

He said authorities involved in the issuance of these documents deny Muslims based on perceptions that they are foreigners and not Ghanaians.

During an engagement with journalists on Friday, March 20, the immediate past High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria indicated that his constituents, including those in Nima and other Muslim communities, have faced such challenges for some time now, but these places have been home to diverse ethnic groups and tribes.

“It is important that all of us take note of how people from the Zongos are sometimes seen as aliens or foreigners, and on that basis, many are being denied national ID cards, passports, and other identification documents just because of their names or ethnic backgrounds. This issue needs urgent attention,” he said.

He warned that denying citizens access to identification documents not only violates their rights but also risks fostering tension and division in society.

He continued with an expression of gratitude to President John Mahama for an extra holiday for Muslims to celebrate their Eid al-Fitr festivities after a successful month of fasting.

According to him, the extra holiday addresses differences in fasting periods while reinforcing unity among citizens.

“We thank the president for adding one holiday to Eid-ul-Fitr. Previously, some people fasted for 29 days while others fasted for 30 days, which caused challenges. With the two holidays now, everyone can celebrate Eid in peace and harmony,” he added.

Baba Jamal emphasised that Ghana’s strong interfaith harmony remains a source of pride, with Muslims and Christians openly supporting and participating in each other’s religious celebrations.

About the double holiday

Friday, March 20, 2026 and Monday, March 23, 2026, have been declared nationwide public holidays.

The Ministry of Interior announced in a statement issued on Friday, March 13.

According to the statement, the holiday is declared in recognition of the celebrations of Eid ul-Fitr and Shaqq Day, which fall on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, 2026, respectively.

“The general public is hereby informed that Friday, 20th March and Saturday, 21st March 2026 mark Eid-Ul-Fitr and Shaqq Days, which are Statutory Public Holidays,” parts of the statement read.

According to the statement, both days are statutory public holidays under the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act (Act 601).

However, the Ministry explained that since March 21, 2026, falls on a Saturday, John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, has by Executive Instrument (E.I) declared Monday, March 23, 2026, as an additional public holiday.

“However, in view of the fact that 21st March 2026 falls on a Saturday, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana has, by Executive Instrument (E.I), in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act (Act 601), as amended, declared Monday, 23rd March 2026, as an Additional Public Holiday…” the statement added.

The Ministry therefore urged the general public to observe Friday, March 20 and Monday, March 23, 2026, as public holidays throughout the country.

“and should be observed as such throughout the country,” the Ministry continued.

Meanwhile, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, Republic Day was reinstated as a statutory public holiday after Parliament on Wednesday, June 25, passed the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which amended Act 601.

However, the government noted that statutory holidays that fell on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday would be commemorated on Monday or Friday. As such, the government declared July 4 a holiday.

The passage of the bill followed an assessment by the Committee on Defence and Interior, along with the leadership of the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, who deemed the bill urgent.

While presenting the motion for the adoption of the committee’s report, Interior Minister and Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, explained that the government had reviewed the number of public holidays in line with its earlier commitments to reform and streamline the holiday calendar.

He emphasized that Republic Day held great significance in Ghana’s history, which was why the government reinstated it as a full public holiday.

According to him, Ghana would continue to observe key holidays such as New Year’s Day on January 1, Constitution Day on January 7, Independence Day on March 6, Good Friday and Easter Monday in March or April for Christians, Labour Day on May 1, and Republic Day on July 1.