The government is in parliament with a bill that seeks to amend the Public Holidays Act, Act 601, to make way for the creation of some three new national holidays.
If passed, two existing holidays will be scrapped and re-christened Commemorative Days.
Among the holidays the amendment is seeking to create are 7th January which marks the rebirth of democracy will be made a Constitutional Day; 4th August will be made Founders’ Day while 21st September will be re-christened Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.
Outlining the rational behind the creation of January 7 as a national holiday, the bill which is currently before parliament explained that “The 1992 Constitution established the Fourth Republic, which was inaugurated on 7th January, 1993”.
May 25 and 1st July, which were African Union and Republic Days, respectively, will now become Commemorative Days.
The bill describes Commemorative Day as “a day other than a statutory public holiday which is set aside in remembrance of an important person or an important event in the past”.
The Public Holidays Amendment Bill has, since, been referred to the Defence and Interior Committees for consideration.
