The Ministry of the Interior has reminded the public that Monday, September 21, 2026, will be observed as a statutory public holiday to mark Founder’s Day.
In a statement signed by the Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the Ministry said the holiday should be observed throughout the country.
“The general public is hereby informed that Monday, 21st September, 2026 marks Founder’s Day, which is a Statutory Public Holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country,” the Minister stated.
The Ministry urged the general public to take note of the declaration and make the necessary arrangements ahead of the holiday.
A Day Rooted in Ghana’s Independence History
Founder’s Day is observed annually on September 21 to honour the legacy of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, whose birthday falls on that date. Dr. Nkrumah was born on September 21, 1909, at Nkroful in the Western Region.
The day holds profound significance in Ghana’s national story. Dr. Nkrumah led Ghana to independence from British colonial rule on March 6, 1957, making the country the first sub-Saharan African nation to achieve self-rule. His vision, leadership, and Pan-African ideals laid the foundation for the nation’s development and inspired liberation movements across the continent.
A History of Political Contestation
The observance of September 21 as a national holiday has been marked by political debate over the years, reflecting competing interpretations of Ghana’s independence narrative.
In 2012, under then-President John Dramani Mahama, Parliament amended the Public Holidays Act to officially declare September 21 a statutory holiday, and from 2013 onwards, it was marked as Founder’s Day.
In March 2019, the Akufo-Addo administration passed the Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, which moved Founders’ Day to August 4. The government argued that independence was achieved through collective effort, particularly by the leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), founded on August 4, 1947. Under this arrangement, September 21 was renamed Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.
The change was met with mixed reactions. Supporters hailed it as recognition of the “Big Six” and other unsung heroes, while critics argued it diluted Nkrumah’s towering legacy.
Restoration Under President Mahama
Following his return to office, President John Dramani Mahama fulfilled a key pledge by restoring September 21 as Founder’s Day. On June 25, 2025, Parliament passed the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which reinstated Nkrumah’s birthday as Founder’s Day and removed August 4 from the holiday calendar.
Announcing the change in Parliament, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak stated: “The purpose of the proposed amendment to the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601) seeks to provide for the removal of the celebration of Founder’s Day on 4th August as a public holiday and rename Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day as Founders’ Day which is to be celebrated on 21st September”.
The government argued that while many contributed to the struggle, it was Nkrumah’s vision and decisive leadership that transformed the dream of self-rule into reality.
How the Day Is Marked
Founder’s Day is traditionally observed with solemnity and festivity across the country. At the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, government officials, traditional leaders, and citizens gather for wreath-laying ceremonies. Schools, universities, and civil society groups host debates, lectures, parades, and cultural displays reflecting on themes of independence, patriotism, and African unity.
In many homes, the day has become an occasion for parents and elders to share stories of the independence struggle with younger generations, passing down the memory of the nation’s birth.
This year’s holiday falls on a Monday, ensuring a long weekend for Ghanaians across all sixteen regions. Businesses, government offices, financial institutions, and schools are expected to remain closed as the nation honours the legacy of its foremost independence leader.
