December 4, 2020 will no longer be observed as a public holiday, the presidency has announced.
The day which is the first Friday of the month of December is a statutory public holiday observed yearly across the country to mark Farmers Days.
Though Farmers Day was celebrated in November as result of the December polls, December 4 was to be observed as a statutory public holiday as stipulated in the law.
But in a statement signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communication at the presidency, the seat of government explained that the president is of the view that it will serve no purpose to observe the day as a public holiday since Farmers Day has already been marked hence, the decision.
The decision by the president, the statement said, is in accordance with Section 3 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (601) which gives the president the discretion to declare any other day as a public holiday, instead of the day specified as a statutory public holiday.
“Under section 3 of the Public and Commemorative Days Act, 2001 (Act 601), the President has the power to declare any other day as a public holiday, instead of a day specified as a statutory public holiday.
This, with Farmers Day having been celebrated on Friday, 6th November, 2020, the president is satisfied that it will be inexpedient for Friday, 4th December 2020, which is a statutory public holiday, to be observed as a public holiday. As such, Friday, 4th December 2020, will not be observed as a holiday,” the statement announced.
The president has, rather, declared December 7, 2020, which is the day of the General Elections, as a public day.
This, the statement explained, is to enable the conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic which calls for strict adherence to the safety measures outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as to enable voters exercise their franchise in safety with little or no inconvenience.
“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, has, by Executive Instrument, declared Monday, 7th December 2020, as a public holiday.
This is to facilitate the conduct of the election in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, help ensure strict observance of Covid-19 safety protocols on election day, and enable registered voters exercise their franchise in safety and with minimal inconvenience,” the statement added.
The decision, the statement disclosed, was arrived at after the submission of a proposal by the Electoral Commission (EC) which was backed by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) for the day of election to be declared as a public holiday.
