How many public holidays does Ghana have in 2026?

Ghana has 13 official public holidays in 2026, including Independence Day (6 March), Republic Day (1 July), Farmers Day (first Friday in December), plus Christian and Islamic holidays.

When is Ghana Independence Day 2026?

Ghana Independence Day is on Friday, 6 March 2026. It celebrates independence from Britain in 1957 - Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence.

When is the best time to visit Ghana?

November to March (dry season) is the best time. December is especially popular with the Homowo and Christmas festivals. Avoid the peak rainy season in June-July.

Are shops open on public holidays in Ghana?

Most shops close on public holidays, though some supermarkets and tourist shops may open with reduced hours. Markets usually have some traders. Restaurants in tourist areas typically stay open.

What is Farmers Day in Ghana?

Farmers Day is a unique Ghanaian holiday on the first Friday of December, honouring farmers and fishermen. The national best farmer wins prizes including a house. It highlights agriculture's importance to Ghana.

Ghana Public Holidays 2026

Complete calendar of national holidays, festivals and business hours

2026 Holiday Calendar

Date	Day	Holiday	Type
1 January	Thursday	New Year's Day	National
6 March	Friday	Independence Day	National
~20 March*	Friday	Eid al-Fitr	Islamic
3 April	Friday	Good Friday	Christian
6 April	Monday	Easter Monday	Christian
1 May	Friday	May Day / Workers' Day	National
25 May	Monday	Africa Day (AU Day)	National
~27 May*	Wednesday	Eid al-Adha	Islamic
1 July	Wednesday	Republic Day	National
21 September	Monday	Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day	National
4 December	Friday	Farmers' Day	National
25 December	Friday	Christmas Day	Christian
26 December	Saturday	Boxing Day	Christian

* Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar; dates are approximate.

Business Hours

Type	Hours	Notes
Banks	Mon-Fri 8:30-16:30	Closed weekends and holidays
Shops	Mon-Sat 8:00-18:00	Some open Sunday mornings
Government	Mon-Fri 8:00-17:00	Closed all public holidays
Markets	Daily 6:00-18:00	Makola Market busiest Mon-Sat

Best & Worst Times to Visit

Best Times

November - March: Dry season; comfortable temperatures; festive season
December: Homowo Festival, Christmas celebrations, Year of Return events
March: Independence Day celebrations (6 March); still dry

Less Ideal Times

June - July: Peak rainy season; Accra flooding common
Easter / Eid: Transport busy; accommodation prices rise

Festivals Worth Visiting

Festival	When	Where	Description
Homowo	August-September	Accra (Ga people)	Harvest festival with traditional foods and celebrations
Chale Wote	August	Jamestown, Accra	Street art festival - Ghana's biggest creative event
Afrochella/Afrofuture	December	Accra	Huge music and culture festival
Panafest	July-August (biennial)	Cape Coast	Pan-African cultural festival at slave castles
Hogbetsotso	November	Anloga, Volta Region	Ewe migration festival with drumming and dancing

Key Dates 2026

Independence Day: 6 Mar

Republic Day: 1 Jul

Farmers' Day: 4 Dec

Nkrumah Day: 21 Sep

Christmas: 25-26 Dec