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Former President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled plans to introduce an additional public holiday for the Eid al-Fitr celebrations, fulfilling a campaign promise to enhance the recognition of Islamic festivities in Ghana.
Speaking at the National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving event held at the National Mosque in Kanda, Accra, on Friday, January 10, Mr. Mahama reiterated his commitment to promoting cultural and religious diversity in the country.
“As part of our promises, we assured the Muslim community of adding one more holiday to the Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Once Parliament resumes, we will amend the Holidays Act to officially recognise an additional day for the Sallah festivities,” he announced.
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The proposed amendment would grant Ghanaians two public holidays to mark Eid al-Fitr following the holy month of Ramadan, allowing more time for families and communities to celebrate the festival. Mr. Mahama assured the public that legislative processes would be expedited to implement the change within the year.
In addition to the second holiday, the former president reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to making the Hajj pilgrimage more affordable for Muslims in Ghana.
He announced the establishment of a five-member Hajj task force, led by Asutifi South MP Collins Dauda, to negotiate better arrangements with Saudi authorities.
“The task force will travel to Saudi Arabia next week to participate in the annual Hajj conference. One of their primary responsibilities is to negotiate arrangements that will drastically reduce Hajj fares, enabling more Muslims to fulfil this religious obligation,” Mr. Mahama said.
Mr. Mahama expressed gratitude to the Muslim community for their support and emphasised the importance of unity and inclusivity in Ghana’s development.
“These initiatives are part of our broader vision to strengthen national cohesion by acknowledging and celebrating the rich cultural and religious diversity that defines our nation,” he added.
