Eid-ul-Fitr celebration: April 24 declared a public holiday in Ghana

Monday, April 24 has been declared a public holiday by the government as Muslims celebrate the annual Eid-ul-Fitr.

In a statement, on Tuesday, April 18,  the Ministry for the Interior said the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration falls on Saturday, and as such the President through an Executive Instrument declared April 24 as a public holiday.

“The general public is hereby notified that Saturday, 22nd April 2023, marks Eid-ul-Fitr which is a statutory holiday.”

“However, in view of the fact that 22nd April falls on a Saturday, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, has by Executive Instrument (E), in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, (Act 601) declared Monday, 24th April 2023 as an additional public holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country.”

This year’s month-long fasting by Muslims started on March 22, 2023, to mark the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.

Muslims believe the Holy Quran was revealed in Ramadan and throughout the month, they fast and engage in other rituals to get closer to Allah.

Eid al-Fitr is one of two major holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world. It can be translated as “the feast of fast-breaking” as it commemorates the end of the holy month of Ramadan in which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk each day.