["Nations and Nationalism, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nIn Ghana, Independence Day is the most important national day and has been annually observed since the attainment of independence in 1957. Additional national days that various military governments introduced to commemorate their ascension to power have been rather short‐lived. Other holidays like Republic Day or Founder's Day have been longer lasting but continue to be contested. Independence Day, by contrast, is recognised by all citizens despite discussions about the best way to celebrate it. ‘Independence’ is an attractive concept that can accommodate a broad range of interpretations. It offers points of identification even for competing political orientations and provides a forum for debates about the nation's history, self‐image, current challenges and desired future course. The article explores the history of Ghana's national days as a window into processes of nation‐building as well as its challenges, namely political cleavages, social confrontations and ethnic tensions.\n"]