The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has urged the government to give priority to socio-economic legislation that would create jobs for the youth instead of prioritising public holidays.
The Minority Leader argued that bills such as the 24-Hour Economy, Conflict of Interest and Anti-Corruption, Anti-Galamsey, Spousal Rights and Anti-LGBTQ+ must be treated with urgency, which would ultimately benefit the country’s socio-economic development, and not public holidays.
The Minority Leader, also the Member of Parliament for Effutu, expressed these concerns on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, during a debate to determine the urgency of passing the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendments) Bill, 2025, into law under a certificate of urgency.
However, Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader, held a contrary view, noting that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), while in opposition, promised to provide an additional holiday to Muslims during Eid-ul-fitr festivities and it was in fulfillment of that promise that the government needed to amend the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act.
He, therefore, expressed surprise that the Minority Leader would oppose the legislation that would benefit all Muslims.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, the Minister of the Interior, while reading the bill for the second time at the plenary, said the passage of the bill into law would bring the total number of holidays in a year to 14, which was far lower than the holidays celebrated by neighbouring African countries.
The legislation would restore July 1 as Republic Day and September 21 as Founder’s Day.
Other holidays within the year include January 7 as Constitutional Day, March 6 as Independence Day, May 1 as Workers’ Day, the first Friday of December as Farmers’ Day, and December 26 as Boxing Day.
The Muslims would also enjoy an additional holiday after observing Eid-ul-Fitr, which often occurs in lunar periods.
The Interior Minister noted that in times the holiday fell within the week, the holiday would be pushed to Friday, and when it fell on weekends, it would be observed on Monday.
That, he said, was intended to promote tourism in the country since people would have enough days to visit tourist sites.
