Government declares Friday, May 1, 2026 Public holiday

The Government of Ghana has officially declared Friday, May 1, 2026, as a statutory public holiday in observance of Workers’ Day, also known as May Day.

The announcement was made in a statement dated April 27, 2026, and signed by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who directed that the holiday be observed nationwide.

2026 Workers’ Day Theme Announced

This year’s May Day celebration will be held under the theme

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“Pivoting to Growth, Jobs and Sustainable Livelihoods Beyond Macroeconomic Stability.”

The theme highlights organised labour’s call for Ghana to move beyond fiscal consolidation and focus more strongly on economic growth, job creation, and long-term livelihoods for workers.

Main Celebration to Be Held in Koforidua

The 2026 national May Day celebration is scheduled to take place in the Eastern Region, with the main event set for Jackson's Park in Koforidua.

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Workers, labour unions, government officials, and stakeholders from across the country are expected to participate in the annual event.

Brief History of May Day in Ghana

Ghanaian workers first celebrated May Day in 1960, when Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was named the First Number One Worker and honoured with a May Day Award by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

However, the celebration was suspended in 1966 following the military coup that overthrew Nkrumah’s government. It was later reinstated in 1967 and has since remained an important national observance.

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Workers’ Rights on Public Holidays in Ghana

Under Ghana’s Holiday Act, 2001, and the Labour Act, 2003, public holidays are recognised as paid non-working days across the country.

Employers who require staff to work on such days are legally required to grant them a substitute paid day off.

Importance of Workers’ Day

Workers’ Day is celebrated annually to honour the contribution of workers to national development and to advocate for better labour conditions, fair wages, and social protection.