The Ministry of the Interior announced the declaration on Monday, September 14, in a statement signed by Interior Minister Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka. The ministry directed that the holiday be observed throughout the country and urged the public to take note of the date and make the necessary arrangements.

The confirmation ends any uncertainty over whether September 21 will be observed as a public holiday this year.

The announcement has also been independently reported by several major Ghanaian news organisations, including Graphic Online, GBC Digital, Pulse Ghana, 3Music TV and MyJoyOnline, all of which reported that September 21 will be observed nationwide as a statutory public holiday.

Founder’s Day commemorates the birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and a central figure in the country’s struggle for independence. The day provides an opportunity for Ghanaians to reflect on the people, movements and events that contributed to the establishment of the Ghanaian state.

The return of September 21 to the statutory holiday calendar follows the passage of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which restored September 21 as Founder’s Day. The amendment also restored July 1 as Republic Day and removed August 4 from the list of statutory public holidays.

The holiday falls on a Monday this year, meaning there will be no need for a substitute public holiday.

Last year, September 21 fell on a Sunday, resulting in Monday, September 22 being declared a substitute public holiday.

With the Interior Ministry's latest declaration, workers, students, businesses and institutions across Ghana can now plan with certainty for the nationwide holiday on September 21.

The remaining statutory public holidays on Ghana’s 2026 calendar include Farmers’ Day on December 4, Christmas Day on December 25 and Boxing Day on December 26.

Photo courtesy: Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Graphic Online