Ghana National Update: GES Sets SHS Reopening Date, JoyNews Honors Social Impact Leaders, and Public Holiday Declared

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has officially announced that all Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates are scheduled to report to Senior High Schools (SHS) and Technical Schools nationwide on September 18, 2026. This move signifies a return to the traditional September academic start following adjustments necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing public concerns, the GES dismissed rumors that approximately 72,000 students might miss out on placements, reassuring parents and candidates that the ongoing phase-out of the double-track system is designed to enhance educational quality and access rather than hinder it. The full academic calendar for basic schools has also been released, with the first term commencing on September 8, 2026.

In the realm of social recognition, the 2026 JoyNews Impact Makers Awards, held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, celebrated individuals and organizations driving significant change across the country. Valeria Adzo Adzatia, founder of the Smiles of Hope Foundation, was named the Overall Impact Maker of the Year for her dedicated work in supporting amputees. Through counseling, rehabilitation, and peer mentorship, her foundation has helped thousands regain confidence and reintegrate into society. Adzatia dedicated her award to individuals living with disabilities, emphasizing the need to overcome social exclusion and stigma through proactive community support.

Adding to the national agenda, the Ministry of the Interior has declared Wednesday, May 27, 2026, as a statutory public holiday to commemorate Eid-Ul-Adha. In a statement issued by the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, the government urged citizens to use the 'Festival of Sacrifice' as an occasion to pray for national peace and development. Meanwhile, on the local level, environmental initiatives are gaining momentum as Abraham Aidoo, an aspiring independent parliamentary candidate, has organized a massive constituency-wide clean-up exercise in Kpone Katamanso. Scheduled for late May, the initiative aims to improve sanitation and public health through collective community action.

Finally, the discourse on national development has been enriched by insights on leadership and parenting from Maria Lovelace Johnson, the Director of Regional Operations at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). Speaking during the "My Mother, My World" series, Johnson emphasized the importance of teaching children to value truth over comfort and shared her personal journey of survival and professional persistence. These diverse developments—spanning education, social impact, religious observance, and civic responsibility—reflect a period of active transition and recognition for Ghana as the country moves through its 2026 calendar.