Public Holidays in Ghana
Statutory public holidays in Ghana, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Ghana at a glance
Ghana’s public holidays centre on Independence Day on 6 March, with Founders’ Day in August and Farmers’ Day in December. Christian and Islamic dates are also observed.
Several dates move with Easter, and the country is notable for honouring farmers with a national holiday.
Ghana public holidays 2026
Ghana has 16 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Constitution Day | Jan 7Wed | National |
| Public Holiday | Jan 9Fri | National |
| Independence Day | Mar 6Fri | National |
| Eid-ul-Fitr | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Shaqq Day | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labour Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Eid-ul-Adha | May 27Wed | National |
| Republic Day | Jul 1Wed | National |
| Public Holiday | Jul 3Fri | National |
Showing 12 of 16 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Ghana
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Ghana.
Accra
A coastal capital of markets, a seafront and a fast-growing arts scene.
Kumasi
The cultural heart of the Ashanti, with a great market and royal heritage.
Tamale
A savanna city with mosques and the gateway to Mole National Park.
Takoradi
A western port and oil city with beaches and fort ruins nearby.
Cape Coast
A city of slave-trade castles and a fishing harbour.
Sekondi
A port city joined to Takoradi, with colonial architecture.
Top attractions in Ghana
The places that draw most visitors to Ghana.
Cape Coast Castle
A fortified slave-trading castle with dungeons and a Door of No Return.
Mole National Park
Savanna park of elephants, antelope and walking safaris.
Kakum National Park
A rainforest reserve with a canopy walkway 40 metres up.
Elmina Castle
The oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa, a white-walled fort.
Wli Waterfalls
The highest waterfall in West Africa, in the Volta region hills.
Lake Volta
One of the largest artificial lakes in the world, flooded behind Akosombo dam.
Festivals, food and getting around Ghana
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Constitution Day
Falls on Jan 7
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Independence Day
Falls on Mar 6
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🎉
Eid ul-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Trotro minibuses and long-distance coaches cover the country; road quality varies outside the main corridors.
Travelling around Ghana’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Ghana tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Ghana's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Ghana public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Ghana have?
Ghana has 16 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Ghana is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Ghana's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Ghana typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Ghana?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Ghana?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Ghana
School term dates in Ghana
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.