Good Friday

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus and entered Ghana’s public calendar through the country’s Christian and British colonial history. Christianity in Ghana was not simply transplanted unchanged: Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, Pentecostal, Charismatic and African-initiated churches developed through European missions, Ghanaian clergy and lay communities, schools, translation and revival movements.

Congregations may hold Passion readings, Stations of the Cross, preaching, fasting or restrained music, but theology and liturgy differ substantially. Some communities also travel for Easter conventions or hometown gatherings beginning on Friday. Ghana’s legal recognition of the day does not make Christian worship compulsory for Muslims, traditional-religion adherents or people without a religious affiliation.

Good Friday is in the First Schedule to the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), as amended most recently by Act 1142 of 2025. Section 4 generally prohibits opening a shop or engaging in business on a public holiday, but exempts food and grocery shops, pharmacies, licensed restaurants and hotels, food markets, licensed liquor premises and essential services including health care, utilities, aviation, fuel, telecommunications and public transport. Labour Act 651 section 72 preserves workers’ remuneration; temporary and casual staff who work receive the additional payment specified by section 77. Weekend or midweek movement is not automatic: it requires an Executive Instrument, and the 2025 rules contain stated exclusions, so the Ministry’s annual notices control the actual closure date.