March 8 declared a public holiday

President Akufo-Addo, through the Ministry of Interior, has declared Monday, March 8, 2021, a public holiday.

A statement signed by the Ministry said the declaration was “in accordance with section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601)”.

Each year, March 6 is set aside as a public holiday to celebrate the country’s day of independence. However, this year’s Independence Day celebration falls on a weekend, a reason it has been moved to March 8.

“In addition to the public holiday, the President may, in the public interest, by executive instrument declare any other day to be a public holiday,” the Holidays Act states.

The statement called on Ghanaians to observe the day as a statutory public holiday nationwide.

“In view of the fact that 6th March 2021 falls on a Saturday, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, has by Executive Instrument (E.I), in accordance with section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601) declared Monday, 8th March 2021, as a Public Holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country.”

As part of the annual ritual of celebrating Ghana’s Independence Day, school children all over the country engage in a parade.

But the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, through the Ghana Education Service (GES), suspended the mounting of parades as part of activities to mark the 64th Independence Day celebration.

The directive is in line with presidential measures of avoiding large gatherings as the country continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

To this end, all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Education Directors and Heads of all schools have, through their Regional Education Directors, been asked to comply with the directive.

“Management of the Ghana Education Service wishes to inform all Regions that the 64th Independence Anniversary Parade on the 6th March 2021 has been suspended forthwith across the country,” GES noted.