Here's why January 7 is a public holiday in Ghana

The amendment is still under consideration by parliament but the Ministry of Interior has already declared the day as a holiday to recognize the coming into force of the 1992 constitution and the beginning of the 4th Republic.

The rationale for the new holiday, according to the government, is to celebrate the longevity of the fourth republican constitution.

The 1992 constitution was promulgated on January 7 by the transitioning military administration led by Jerry John Rawlings.

The 1992 constitution is the longest surviving constitution in Ghana.

Previous ones in the first, second and third republics could not survive after military interventions and coups.

The day is being marked as "Constitution Day."

President Akufo-Addo in a tweet also said the celebration of the holiday is also an acknowledgement of the rule of law and the principles of constitutionalism in the country.

“On this first #ConstitutionDay, we celebrate the longest, undisturbed period of stable, constitutional rule in the history of Ghana and acknowledge our collective efforts, as a country, in upholding the tenets of democracy, the rule of law and the principles of constitutionalism.” The President tweeted.

The day has been severely criticized by some Nkrumahists who see the new holiday as an attempt to downplay the role of Dr Kwame Nkrumah in achieving a republican status for Ghana.

Ghana became a republic on July 1, 1960 and until recently, the day was observed as a holiday.

With the new holiday amendment act, July 1 will no longer be a holiday.

The Convention People's Party (CPP) in a memo to parliament on the new holiday accused government of “creating an erroneous impression with regards to our history of the country after proposing the public holiday amendment bill 2018.”

The party also argues that the public amendment bill will serve as a wrong precedent and a disincentive to education in the country.

The Minority in Parliament has also said it was mobilizing a broad-based coalition to put pressure on the government to withdraw the Public Holidays Amendment Act.

The North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, told Accra-based Citi FM that the minority was going to vehemently resist the attempt by government to have the holidays changed.