President Mahama to restore 1st July as statutory holiday and National Day of Prayer

President John Dramani Mahama has reported his goal to reestablish first July as a , statutory public holiday underscoring its significance as Republic Day and Senior Citizens Day.

It will be reviewed that the past administration under previous President Nana Akufo-Addo nullified this holiday with the entry of the passage of the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2019 (Act 986), supplanting it with fourth August to observe Ghana’s founders.

During his “Thank You Tour” to the Western Region on Wednesday, 5th February, President Mahama, who had previously opposed this change, confirmed his decision to reinstate the holiday.

He also mentioned that discussions are underway to make the day a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.

We will have the opportunity as a nation soon to pray and give thanks to the Almighty God, as enjoined by the Holy Book, which says that in all things, give thanks. We will thank God for His beautiful blessings on our nation, Ghana, and I’ll soon announce a planning committee made up of religious leaders to organise the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.

I propose that this National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving should be held on the 1st of July, which is also our Republic Day and marks Senior Citizens Day.

The President also revealed plans to amend the Public Holidays Act to include an additional two-day holiday for the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, fulfilling his campaign promise to the Muslim community.

We will soon present to Parliament amendments to the Public Holidays Act in order to restore 1st July as a holiday. In the amendment of the Public Holidays 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.

The move to reinstate the Republic Day holiday is expected to spark public debate regarding Ghana’s founding history.

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