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Eid ul-Adha Celebration in Ghana: Why Wednesday, May 27 Holiday Cannot Be Moved to Friday
Politics

Eid ul-Adha Celebration in Ghana: Why Wednesday, May 27 Holiday Cannot Be Moved to Friday

by  Salifu Bagulube Moro reviewed by  Bruce Douglas
2 min read
  • Ghana declared Wednesday, May 27, 2026, as a public holiday for Eid ul-Adha, amid calls for the date to be moved to Friday
  • Amendments to the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act allow the President to move certain midweek holidays
  • However, the government clarified that Eid ul-Adha must be observed on its fixed date and could not be moved to May 29, 2026

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The Government of Ghana has declared Wednesday, May 27, 2026, a public holiday to mark the celebration of Eid ul-Adha.

However, the decision has triggered debate on social media, with some Ghanaians questioning why the holiday has not been moved to Friday, May 29, 2026, to create a long weekend.

Public holiday, for Eid-ul-Adha, Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, the National Chief Imam of Ghana is His Eminence Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, Muslims in Ghana, The Interior Minister, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak.
Interior Minister, Muntaka Mubarak, declares May 27, 2026, a public holiday for Muslims, led by Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, to celebrate Eid ul-Adha. Photo credit: Peace Dawa Media/Facebook.
Source: Facebook

The discussion follows amendments to the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, which grants the President the authority to shift certain midweek public holidays falling on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to either Friday or Monday in order to boost productivity and encourage extended weekends.

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Despite this provision, the government has clarified that the Eid ul-Adha holiday cannot be rescheduled, explaining that the festival is a major religious observance that is exempt from the midweek holiday adjustment policy.

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Under Section 3 of Act 601 (as amended), holidays such as Eid ul-Adha, Eid-ul-Fitr, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day are classified as 'fixed' observances that must be commemorated on their actual dates.

Because Eid-ul-Adha is determined by the Islamic lunar calendar and associated religious rites, authorities say it must be observed on the exact date it falls.

For 2026, that date has been fixed as Wednesday, May 27, and cannot be shifted to Friday, May 29, 2026.

Ghanaian pilgrim dies in Mecca

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported that a Ghanaian Muslim pilgrim, Musah Sidi, had died during Tawaf in Mecca, according to the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana.

The 53-year-old's death was deemed a spiritual blessing by the Pilgrims Affairs Office, with Islamic tradition honouring any pilgrims who pass away while in worship.

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Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Salifu Bagulube Moro avatar

Salifu Bagulube Moro (Human-Interest Editor) Salifu Bagulube Moro is a Current Affairs Editor at YEN.com.gh. He has over five years of experience in journalism. He graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2018, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies with a specialization in Journalism. Salifu previously worked with Opera News as a Content Management Systems (CMS) Editor. He also worked as an Online Reporter for the Ghanatalksbusiness.com news portal, as well as with the Graphic Communications Group Limited as a National Service Person. Salifu joined YEN.com.gh in 2024. Email: salifu.moro@yen.com.gh.

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