Ghana’s Independence Day is annually observed on March 6. It is a national holiday in Ghana and is also widely celebrated by Ghanaians living abroad. If March 6 falls on a weekend, the Monday following will also be a holiday. Ghana National Day is another name for Ghana Independence Day. The celebrations mark the 1957 independence of Ghana from the United Kingdom. The day is celebrated with carnivals, parades, and other events in public offices. Individuals celebrate the day with music, food, and possibly the display of the national flag.
The background of Ghana Independence Day
Before the arrival of Europeans, the Ashanti, a powerful tribe in the region, inhabited Ghana. Numerous ancient Ghanaian tribes settled in regions with abundant natural resources, such as gold and ivory. The colonists were drawn to Ghana’s shores by these valuable commodities. While the Portuguese were the first to establish a settlement in the area, the allure of the region’s riches led to a struggle for dominance among numerous European nations. Ghana was renamed the British Gold Coast in 1874, when Britain took control of portions of the country.
Britain, having been weakened by the efforts of World War II, decided to reduce its colonies and the power they held throughout the world, including in Africa. A growing demand for independence in the Gold Coast bolstered this desire. Following the Gold Coast legislative elections in 1947, the United Gold Coast Convention (U.G.C.C. ), a local political party founded by J. B. Danquah, demanded “self-government within the shortest possible time.”
In 1951, former U.G.C.C. Secretary-General and founder of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah won a majority in legislative elections on the Gold Coast. In 1952, he was appointed leader of the Gold Coast government, and on March 6, 1957, the Gold Coast region declared its independence from the United Kingdom. After achieving independence, the new nation was named the Nation of Ghana. Nkrumah went on to become the country’s first prime minister, and Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence from colonial powers.
Texas Independence Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Texas
5 facts about Ghana that will astound you
In the Mande and Sonike languages, ghana translates to “warrior king.”
The longest war against European invaders, the Anglo-Ashanti War lasted 77 years, from 1823 to 1900.
Lake Volta spans over 320 miles.
The Akan employ an inheritance system based on the matriarchal lineage.
The ‘abebuu adekai,’ or proverbial coffins, take the form of objects that represent the deceased’s occupation or interests.
GHANA INDEPENDENCE DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | March 6 | Monday |
| 2024 | March 6 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | March 6 | Thursday |
| 2026 | March 6 | Friday |
| 2027 | March 6 | Saturday |