This statutory public holiday is celebrated on March 6th. If March 6th falls on a weekend, the following Monday will be observed as a holiday. 

It is Ghana’s National Day and commemorates Ghana’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1957.

Before the arrival of Europeans, Ghana was the location of the Ashanti, a powerful tribe in the region. The area had an abundance of natural resources, including gold and ivory, which attracted the attention of colonists. While the Portuguese had been the first to establish a settlement in the region, the attractiveness of the local riches led to a struggle for control between many European nations. In 1874, Britain took control over parts of the country, naming them the British Gold Coast.

The currency of Ghana is called the cedi. The word ‘cedi’ comes from a word meaning a cowry shell. Cowry shells were once used as money in Ghana.

Weakened by the efforts of World War II, Britain had begun the process of reducing its colonies around the world, including those Africa.