Ghana Independence Day — 6 March
Ghana celebrates its Independence Day every year on 6 March, marking the events of 1957.
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Why 6 March?
Ghana made history on 6 March 1957 as the first sub-Saharan African country to win independence from European colonial rule, inspiring liberation movements across the continent. Led by Kwame Nkrumah, the former Gold Coast took the name Ghana after a medieval West African empire. At midnight in Accra, Nkrumah declared that Ghana was 'free forever,' and the red-gold-green flag with its black star replaced the British colours; Ghana became a republic in 1960. The black star, which drew on Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line and later lent its name to the national football team, became an enduring emblem of Pan-Africanism, while the red honours those who died for freedom, the gold the country's mineral wealth and the green its forests. Independence Day is a public holiday celebrated with a national parade at Black Star Square, school events and cultural displays. It remains a source of continental pride and a reminder of Ghana's pioneering role in decolonisation.
Learn what every colour and symbol means on the Ghana flag page.
Quick facts
- Date
- 6 March (every year)
- Official name
- Independence Day
- Commemorates
- 1957
- Public holiday
- Yes, in Ghana