In a historic move, Ghana is set to celebrate Constitution Day on Sunday, January 7, 2024, marking the adoption of the Constitution of the Fourth Republic on the same day in 1993.
This significant day has been officially declared a holiday under Section 2 of the Public Holiday Act, 2001 (Act 601).
The roots of Constitution Day trace back to January 7, 1993 , when Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings was inaugurated as President. He was subsequently re-inaugurated on January 7, 1997, following his victory in the 1996 elections.
Successive leaders, including John Agyekum Kufuor in 2001, John Atta Mills in 2009, and John Dramani Mahama in 2012, were also sworn into office on January 7 in their respective election years.
Notably, President Akufo-Addo, inaugurated in 2017 and re-elected in 2020, has played a pivotal role in initiating Constitution Day on the day for presidential inaugurations.
This initiative aims to acknowledge the importance of the nation’s longest-serving constitution and to uphold democratic principles, liberty, rule of law, accountability, and constitutionalism.
As part of the Constitution Day celebration, the Ministry of the Interior has declared January 8, 2024, a public holiday, providing Ghanaians with an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s democratic journey and values.