Minister for the Interior Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has officially declared Monday, September 21, as a statutory public holiday across Ghana to observe Founder’s Day.
The national holiday commemorates the 117th birthday anniversary of Ghana’s first Prime Minister and President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, honoring his monumental role in leading the Gold Coast to independence in 1957 and his lifelong championing of Pan-Africanism.
Key Reasons for Celebration & Legislative Reinstatement
Restoration of Singular Founder Status:
Repeal of August 4 Holiday: Following the passage of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Bill, Parliament officially repealed the August 4 multi-founder holiday (“Founders’ Day”) and restored September 21 as Founder’s Day.
Historical Justice: The Management of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and civic groups hailed the move as historical justice, reaffirming Nkrumah’s peerless leadership in achieving “self-governance now”.
Pillars of Osagyefo’s National Legacy:
Pan-African Champion: Nkrumah co-founded the Organization of African Unity (OAU, now the African Union) and famously asserted that Ghana’s independence was incomplete without the total liberation of the continent.
Foundational Infrastructure: Spearheaded state-defining projects including the Akosombo Dam, Tema Port, Adomi Bridge, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
Nationwide Commemorative Activities:
Accra Ceremony: Official wreath-laying and tributes at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park & Mausoleum in Accra.
NkrumahFest 2026: A grand durbar of chiefs, state officials, and Pan-African scholars gathered in Nkroful (his birthplace in the Western Region) to celebrate his vision.