In June 2025, the Ghanaian Parliament approved the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing key changes to Ghana’s holiday calendar.
The newly passed legislation restores July 1 as Republic Day, formally recognizing the country’s transition to a republic in 1960.
The bill also repeals August 4 as Founders’ Day and reinstates September 21 as Founder’s Day, in honour of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and a leading figure in the country’s independence movement.
When is Founders' Day?
This statutory public holiday is celebrated on August 4th. If August 4th falls on a weekend, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday.
Prior to the passing of the Public Holiday Amendment Bill into law in March 2019, the holiday on September 21st was known as Founders' Day.
History of Founders' Day
In 1874, Britain took control over parts of Ghana, naming them the British Gold Coast.
Britain was weakened by the efforts of World War II and following a rising desire for independence, Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve independence, on March 6th 1957.
August 4th has been chosen as the date for Founders' Day as it marks two important events in Ghana's history. It is the date for the formation of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society by John Mensah Sarbah in 1897, and the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) in 1947 by J.B. Danquah and George Alfred "Paa" Grant.
In a message to the nation to mark the inaugural Founders' Day on Sunday August 4th 2019, President Nana Akufo-Addo said: "We acknowledge the role played by successive generations of Ghanaians towards the liberation of our country from colonization and imperialism.”
Akufo-Addo added, “it is time we rose above partisan considerations, set the record straight, recognise the collective efforts in gaining our freedom and independence from colonial rule and do right by our history.”
