Public Holidays in Ghana for 2019
Ghana is a friendly and safe country with so much to offer. There is sunshine, national parks, wildlife, beaches, and a richly-cultured heritage. The tropical coastline is long, and it has a natural appeal for travellers. Cape Coast is a beautiful part of Ghana to visit despite its history of being a slave port because it is now a cultural destination. The dark past of Ghana is proof that the European powers had swayed.
Ghana has 25 holidays and observance that people look forward to every year because they go on vacation. If you want to open a business in Ghana, you must be aware of the employee benefits during these holidays to keep them happy. Also, you must know when these holidays are.
Know more about them now so you can grant them to your employees.
What Employers Must Know During Public Holidays
A worker must be given a paid leave of at least 15 days annually after they have worked for 12 months with the same employer. That means at least 200 days of continuous employment with the company. If the employer needs to be absent, it is not an interruption if the employer allowed it. A medical certificate must back public holidays and be absent from work because of sickness. Confinement and pregnancy must not impact the workers’ entitled to paid leave.
The employee may take their leave in two equally equal parts, and all employees have the right to enjoy their annual leave without interruptions. However, an employer may ask the employee to report to work in case of something urgent. The employer needs to compensate for this interruption after the reasonable expense, and resumption of the leave.
Dates of the Ghana Public Holiday 2019
Date | Day/s | Holiday | Type |
1 January | Tuesday | New Year’s Day | Public |
7 January | Monday | Constitution Day | Public |
6 March | Wednesday | Independence Day | Public |
20 March | Wednesday | March Equinox | Season |
19 April | Friday | Good Friday | Public |
20 April | Saturday | Holy Saturday | Observance |
21 April | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Observance |
22 April | Monday | Easter Monday | Public |
1 May | Wednesday | May Day | Public |
12 May | Sunday | Mothers’ Day | Observance |
5 June | Wednesday | Id ul Fitr | Public |
16 June | Sunday | Fathers’ Day | Observance |
21 June | Friday | June Solstice | Season |
4 August | Sunday | Founders’ Day | Public |
5 August | Monday | Founders’ Day observed | Public |
11 August | Sunday | Eid al-Adha | Observance |
12 August | Monday | Eid al-Adha observed | Public |
21 September | Saturday | Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day | Public |
23 September | Monday | September Equinox | Season |
23 September | Monday | Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day observed | Public |
6 December | Friday | Farmer’s Day | Public |
22 December | Sunday | December Solstice | Season |
24 December | Tuesday | Christmas Eve | Observance |
25 December | Wednesday | Christmas Day | Public |
26 December | Thursday | Boxing Day | Public |
31 December | Tuesday | New Year’s Eve | Observance |
Employee Benefits on Public Holidays
The annual leave is paid in full, and the pay must include basic pay, including the equivalent pay that is in-kind not including overtime payments.
Employers must let the employee know at least 30 days before the leave starts when they should take it. The annual leave is not affected by the sick leave, and in case of contract termination, the worker must be given an annual leave that is proportionate to how long they have worked for the company. Any agreement to not give the annual leave is not valid.
Employees, except domestic workers in private homes and task-based workers, must have a rest of 48 hours per week. They usually are Saturday and Sunday. These are not counted as public holidays.
Employers must keep a record to show a worker’s employment date and how long the annual leave will be that the worker is being entitled. They must also list the dates when the annual will be taken and the remuneration the worker receives during their annual leave.
Doing Business in Ghana
Ghana has a lot of resources, and they have a democratic political system in a dynamic economy. That is why setting up a business in Ghana would be an excellent venture to make. A lot of international companies are attracted to Ghana because they have a social, economic, and political environment that is welcoming to foreign investors.
The nation is also very rich in natural resources, and the country is committed to having better physical infrastructure. It will make the business environment even better.
If you want to open a business in Ghana, do not hesitate because you can come to us for assistance.