The government has proposed two new public holidays to be observed as January 7, and August 4, should parliament passes the bill laid before it. Ghanaians may observe January 7, 2019, as a public holiday and August 4, as Founders’ Day respectively.
President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo delivering his first state of the Nation address in 2017, indicated his intention 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.”
According to the bill before parliament, the 25th of May is currently Africa Unity Day and July 1st, as Republic Day will become commemorative days, but not observed as public holidays.
The bill explains that August 4th has been proposed as a public holiday because, it was in 1897 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.
Currently, Ghana has 14 public holidays in a year, which is comparison, is higher than most west african and european nation.
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Ghanamatters.com | Ghana
