Interior Minister declares Friday 3rd July public holiday

The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has declared Friday, July 3, 2026, a statutory public holiday to mark Republic Day.

The announcement was made in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Interior Minister following an Executive Instrument issued by President John Dramani Mahama in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), as amended.

The ministry said the decision was necessary because July 1, 2026, falls on a Wednesday.

“The general public is hereby informed that Friday, 3rd July 2026, marks Republic Day, which is a Statutory Public Holiday,” the statement said.

It further explained that although Republic Day falls on July 1, the President had officially designated July 3 for nationwide observance.

“However, in view of the fact that 1st July 2026 falls on a Wednesday, 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 Friday, 3rd July 2026, as Public Holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country,” the statement added.

The declaration reflects a policy change introduced by the Mahama administration regarding the status of Republic Day.

During the erstwhile administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Republic Day, observed on July 1, was treated as a commemorative day and was no longer recognised as a public holiday.

The current administration has since reversed that decision and restored the day to its former status as a statutory public holiday.

Republic Day is one of Ghana’s significant national milestones as it commemorates the country’s transition to a republican system of governance.

On July 1, 1960, Ghana officially became a republic, ending its status as a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth. Osaagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah became the country’s first President under the republican constitution.

The annual observance serves as a reminder of Ghana’s democratic journey and its transition to full sovereign self-governance following independence in 1957.

The Interior Ministry has therefore urged citizens, institutions and businesses across the country to take note of the declaration and observe Friday, July 3, 2026, as a public holiday.