Ghana will observe Friday, December 5, 2025, as a statutory public holiday, according to an announcement from the Ministry of the Interior. The statement, signed by Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, explained that the date has been set aside for the nationwide celebration of Farmers’ Day.
Farmers’ Day is marked every first Friday in December to honour the essential work of farmers and fishers whose efforts drive food security, economic stability and national development. This year’s event carries the theme “Eat Ghana, Grow Ghana, Secure the Future.”
The Ministry encouraged the public to acknowledge the significance of the holiday and participate in its observance in a manner befitting the occasion.
National Farmer’s Day is recognised across Ghana as a statutory public holiday, observed every first Friday in December to honour the agricultural workforce that sustains the country. In election years, however, the celebration itself is moved to the first Friday of November, even though the December date continues to stand as the legally mandated holiday.
The day highlights the crucial role agriculture and fishing play in Ghana’s economic resilience. Across all 16 regions, public ceremonies are held to celebrate outstanding farmers and fishers whose hard work and innovative practices strengthen food production and contribute to national growth.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture introduced the celebration in 1988, setting aside the first Friday of December to acknowledge the farmers and fishers who provide for the nation. The annual event continues to emphasise how essential a vibrant agricultural sector is to the country’s overall prosperity.
The roots of the holiday trace back to a difficult period in Ghana’s history. From 1982 to 1984, the country suffered a devastating agricultural setback brought on by a severe drought. The crisis peaked in 1984 when deadly bushfires stripped the land of vegetation and destroyed large areas of cocoa plantations and food crops. Food shortages intensified during this period. Relief efforts came through the National Mobilisation Squads, commonly known as the Mobisquads, who worked to rehabilitate damaged farmlands and replant cocoa trees.
National Farmer’s Day was later established to underscore the importance of farming and to serve as a reminder of the risks and sacrifices involved in feeding the nation.
Celebrations typically include a series of activities, among them regional and national award ceremonies that recognise exceptional farmers and fishers. A National Farmers Forum also brings together award recipients, policymakers and agricultural experts to discuss technological innovations and share concerns from the farming community.
The holiday reflects agriculture’s considerable weight in Ghana’s economy. According to the CIA World Factbook, the sector contributes roughly 20 percent of GDP and provides employment for more than half of the national workforce, most of whom are small-scale farmers.
Each year, the Minister of the Interior formally declares the date a statutory public holiday and encourages the entire country to observe it with the recognition it deserves.
