KEY POINTS
- November 8 Farmers’ Day celebration is not a holiday.
- The statutory Farmers’ Day holiday remains December 6.
- Date shift accommodates election schedules to prevent overlap.
The Ministry of the Interior has clarified that Friday, November 8, will not be observed as a public holiday in Ghana, despite it being the day designated for celebrating this year’s National Farmers’ Day. Instead, the statutory holiday will take place on Friday, December 6.
Farmers’ Day and its statutory holiday date
The official Farmers’ Day holiday is set for December 6, with regular statewide observance on the first Friday of December, according to a statement released by Interior Minister Henry Quartey.
The Farmers’ Day celebration itself, however, will take place earlier, on November 8, as is customary in election years to meet the voting timetable, because of the approaching election season.
To recognize Ghanaian farmers and fishermen for their contributions to the country’s economy and food security, the first Friday in December is usually set aside as a national holiday.
The actual celebration date, however, occasionally changes during election years to prevent conflict with the national elections, which are held on December 7 every four years.
Importance of the public notice
The ministry’s statement serves to eliminate public confusion, as some had assumed November 8 would be marked as a public holiday.
According to Graphic Online, Minister Quartey reiterated that while the celebration is being observed earlier this year, the official holiday remains in December.
“Friday, December 6, which marks Farmers’ Day, will continue as a statutory public holiday and will be observed throughout the country,” Quartey’s statement confirmed, adding that November 8 will solely serve for celebratory events without a national holiday.
Adapting traditions to election schedules
Shifting Farmers’ Day celebrations in election years is a longstanding practice in Ghana.
By moving the celebration date to November, the ministry allows for the smooth planning of the election on December 7, ensuring that the statutory holiday falls after election activities.
This adaptation seeks to ensure proper scheduling with reference to traditions so that all Ghanaians observe the farming community on the first Friday of December.
