Madina MP initiates two bills to amend Public Holidays Act
The amendment forms part of efforts to realize the achievement of a more progressive, productive and inclusive society, Mr. Sosu announced in a statement.
The Member of Parliament for the Madina Constituency, Francis-Xavier Sosu has initiated two bills to amend the Public Holidays Act 2001, Act 601.
The new bills, one to provide an additional two Islamic public holidays, and the other to make holidays observance more Productive were submitted to the Clerk to Parliament on Wednesday, 29th November 2023, and are currently being processed.
The amendment forms part of efforts to realize the achievement of a more progressive, productive and inclusive society, Mr. Sosu announced in a statement.
The Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, 2023
- Introduction of law to make holidays observance more Productive
The Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (No.1) has a primary purpose of ensuring effective use of public holidays to ensure productivity seeks to amend the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act, 2001, Act 601, to remove the power of the President to declare additional public holiday, grant authority to the President to merge public holidays, postpone celebration of public holidays on productive days to Friday, remove criminal sanctions for non-observance of public holidays, and provide for related matters.
When passed public holidays that fall on days between Tuesday and Thursday shall be observed on Fridays. A substitute public holiday is an ordinary day that is treated like a public holiday instead of the actual public holiday. The basis for this proposal stems from the fact that productivity may be at its peak in the middle of the working week, say on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
Also, the proposal seeks to abolish the regime of criminalizing conducts associated with public holidays by a repeal of the Offences and penalties provisions under section 5 of Act 601.
2. Introduction of Bill for Two (2) New Islamic Holidays
The Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (No.2) seeks to extend the period of public holidays for Muslims from the current one (1) day each to two (2) days for each Islamic festivity. The amendment seeks to include Tashreeq (a day after Eid-al-Adha Festival) and Shaqq (a day before the Eid-al-Fitr) as Public Holidays and provide for related matters.
The right of every Ghanaian to freedom of religion is a fundamental one. In Article 21(c) every Ghanian has the freedom to practice any religion and to manifest any religion. Being the 2nd dominant religion in Ghana, Ghanaian Muslims must have equal opportunities when it come to celebration of religious festivals. After 40 days of mandatory religious obligation of fasting, practitioners of Islamic Religion deserve an additional day for rest and to prepare for full activities.
When passed, this Act will go a long way to promote religious tolerance and help realize, promote and guarantee a more open, progressive, inclusive and secure society.
