Akufo-Addo declares Dec. 7 as Public Holiday

President Akufo-Addo has declared Monday, December 7, 2020 as a Public Holiday.

This is to facilitate the conduct of the election which the Electoral Commission wants to ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

A statement from the Presidency indicated that since the Farmers’ Day was celebrated on Friday, November 6, 2020 “it will be inexpedient for Friday, December 4, 2020, which is a statutory public holiday to be observed as a public holiday.”

“As such, Friday, 4th December 2020, will not be observed as a holiday”, the statement added.

The statement from the Presidency said, the declaration of Monday, December 7, 2020, as a public holiday is to “facilitate the conduct of the election in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, to help ensure strict observance of COVID-19 safety protocols on election day, and enable registered voters to exercise their franchise in safety and with minimal inconvenience.”

The decision was taken following the submission of a proposal to the President by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs. Jean Mensa.

This proposal was supported by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).

“Under section 3 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), the President has the power to declare any other day as a public holiday, instead of a day specified as a statutory public holiday.”

All the political parties had agreed to the EC’s proposal to make December 7, a statutory holiday.

The EC in a statement had explained that its proposal sought to “give registered voters the opportunity to devote the day to exercise their civic right and responsibility to vote during the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.”