1. Context & Announcement
In a recent government declaration, Monday, September 22, 2025 has been designated a public holiday in honour of Founder’s Day, which commemorates the birthday of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah . The actual birth date of Nkrumah falls on Sunday, September 21, 2025. Under Ghana’s Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, when a statutory holiday occurs on a weekend, it may be observed on the following Monday upon presidential approval via Executive Instrument .
The formal announcement was made by the Ministry of the Interior, with Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak communicating that President John Dramani Mahama, through an Executive Instrument, had directed that Monday, September 22 be observed nationwide as a holiday in compliance with the amended Act .
2. Legislative Background
Earlier in 2025, Ghana’s Parliament approved an amendment to the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act. This amendment:
- Restored September 21 as Founder’s Day—officially honouring Nkrumah’s birthday
- Removed August 4 as Founders’ Day from the official calendar
- Reinstated July 1 as Republic Day
- Added a new holiday called “Shaqq Day” following Eid-ul-Fitr
Under the amended law, any public holiday landing on a Saturday or Sunday must be observed on the following Monday, a procedural change now formally in effect .
3. The Evolution of “Founder’s Day” in Ghana
3.1 Prior Arrangement (2019–2024)
Between 2019 and 2024, Founders’ Day (with an apostrophe-after-S) was celebrated on August 4 each year to commemorate the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and related pre-independence nationalist activities involving the Big Six (including Nkrumah, J. B. Danquah, Edward Akufo-Addo, William Ofori Atta, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, and Ebenezer Ako-Adjei) . At the same time, September 21 had been referred to as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day—a separate date but not a statutory public holiday until the 2025 changes .
3.2 The 2025 Shift
In June 2025, Ghana’s Parliament repealed the August 4 Founders’ Day holiday and restored September 21 as the official Founder’s Day, which formally honours only Dr. Nkrumah . The legislative revisions made July 1 Republic Day official and added new commemorations like Shaqq Day after Eid-ul-Fitr. As of September 2025, August 4 is no longer observed as Founders’ Day .
4. What This Means for September 2025
Because September 21, 2025 falls on a Sunday, the holiday is officially observed on Monday, September 22 in line with the amended Act and presidential directive . Government offices, schools, banks, and other institutions recognizing statutory holidays will be closed on Monday across the country.
Practically:
- Sunday, September 21 remains the historic date—Nkrumah’s birthday—but is not a workday holiday.
- Monday, September 22 is the legally observed Founder’s Day holiday.
- The holiday shift ensures that Ghanaians can mark the occasion with a complete day of national reflection and commemoration.
5. Historical & Political Significance
5.1 Nkrumah’s Legacy
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (born 21 September 1909, died 27 April 1972) led Ghana to independence from British colonial rule in 1957 and became the country’s first Prime Minister and President . His visionary Pan-Africanism, socialist orientation, and leadership of the independence movement made him an iconic figure not only within Ghana, but across continental Africa.
5.2 Controversy Over Holiday Names
The switch between commemorating the Big Six on August 4 versus celebrating Nkrumah alone on September 21 has been politically sensitive. The 2018 Public Holidays Bill, under President Akufo-Addo, replaced Founder’s Day (27 Sept) with Founders’ Day (4 Aug), which some critics claimed diminished Nkrumah’s unique legacy in favour of a broader national narrative highlighting J. B. Danquah and others .
Supporters of the new 2025 arrangement argue that reinstating Nkrumah’s birthday as a formal public holiday restores rightful recognition. Critics respond that honouring only one founder risks overshadowing the broader nationalist movement represented by the Big Six.
6. Public Reaction & Broader Implications
6.1 Public Ceremony and Observances
The holiday is typically marked by:
- Public lectures, often at Parliament or national institutions
- School programmes and special assemblies
- Community events and storytelling sessions focused on nation-building
- Media retrospectives on Nkrumah’s life and achievements
In the week preceding September 21–22, civic groups and historians often intensify efforts to educate the public on Nkrumah’s ideological contributions, Ghana’s independence struggle, and the significance of national unity.
6.2 Legislative Precedent for weekend holidays
The enforcement of the rule that holidays falling on weekends be observed on the next Monday ensures minimal disruption to work and public services. This also means that public holidays such as Constitution Day (January 7) and others follow a consistent system when they land on weekends .
6.3 National Identity & Historical Memory
The 2025 calendar changes reflect Ghana’s ongoing efforts to redefine national identity narratives. Re-centering Nkrumah through Founder’s Day on September 21 supports a hero-based symbolic memory, while critics maintain that genuine nation-building requires recognising multiple contributors rather than a single figure.
At the same time, reinstating Republic Day on July 1 emphasizes Ghana’s sovereignty and transition from colonial rule to republican status, reinforcing milestones in the country’s political evolution .
