The Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has welcomed the government’s declaration of Wednesdays as “Fugu Day,” citing its potential to help preserve and promote Ghana’s cultural heritage and identity.
This was evident when pupils of GNAPS member schools in the Wa Municipality observed the “Fugu Day” by wearing the Smock (Fugu) to school on Wednesday.
The government of Ghana, in a statement signed by Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, on February 10, 2026, declared Wednesday as “Fugu Day” as part of efforts to preserve and promote Ghana’s cultural heritage.
During a visit to some private schools in Wa, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) observed that the pupils dressed in the Fugu regalia, presenting a sight to behold and showcasing the country’s rich cultural identity, particularly of northern Ghana.
Some pupils at the Senior Victory College, a private school in Wa, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa that they were overjoyed to wear a smock to school and would be happy if it were made a weekly dress code.
Master Mumuni Khalid Lamaniye, a Basic Six pupil of the school, said the Smock, which was won by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, to declare Ghana’s independence, also signified the power embedded in it.
She explained the connotations of the directions of the smock hat when worn, saying that pointing the hat forward signifies power, to the right means leadership, to the left means humility, to the back means followership, and the hat standing upright signifies a high position.
Mr Sulemana Mumuni, the Wa Municipal Chairperson of GNAPS, told the GNA that the pupils wearing smocks to school also formed part of the activities to mark the GNAPS Week celebration in the municipality.
“As we celebrate our week-long activity, we added the wearing of a smock as a critical component … we encourage all our learners to be in the smock today, Wednesday, to showcase the rich culture of Ghana, the rich culture of the north, and the rich culture that we must all embrace,” he explained.
Mr Sulemana said GNAPS would regularly observe “Fugu Day” in the municipality to help market the country’s rich cultural heritage.
He expressed the hope that other schools would emulate the private schools’ example by accepting and wearing the smock on Wednesdays.
Mr Emmanuel Yissannuba, a teacher at Ancilla School, said they supported the government’s initiative because the smock was part of their culture, hence it was necessary to pass it down to generations.
Alhassan Daubile Malik, the Wa Municipal Secretary of GNAPS, described the pupils’ appearance as colourful, adding that its adoption by schools would help promote the country’s culture globally.
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