May 25: New Public Holiday

Parliament has passed the Public Holiday’s Amendment Bill, which adds the 25th of May to the list of national public holidays. The holiday will be observed in commemoration of the establishment of the African Union on May 25th, 2001. The African Union, loosely modelled on the European Union, replaced the Organization of African Unity. The bill for the commemoration of African Union Day passed through Parliament without much controversy.

But the few members, who opposed the bill argued that, there are too many holidays on the national calendar. The most notable opponent of the bill was the MP for Builsa South, Norbert Awulley. He said the continent-wide holiday will only worsen the woes of impoverished Africans since productive hours will be lost.

The MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon, George Amo, supported the assertion that the commemoration of the holiday will reduce productivity on the whole continent. He however said the commemoration of African Union Day can be used to evaluate the progress of the continent and discuss how Africa can be developed.