The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has strongly criticised events at the Karnival Kingdom Festival held from April 22 to 28, 2026, describing scenes of public nudity as unacceptable and a breach of Ghanaian law.
In a statement, the Conference said it had taken note of the development, particularly the presence of police officers providing protection during the event.
“The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has taken note of the public nudity at the Karnival Kingdom Festival (22–28 April 2026), during which participants received police protection. The event was an eyesore, denigrated our values as a nation and breached the laws of our land (cf. Section 278 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)).”
The Bishops called for an immediate probe into the incident and the role played by state institutions.
“We, Pastors of our Land, unequivocally condemn the act of public nudity and call for immediate investigation into the role of State Institutions, and the importation of foreign cultural practices. The presence of police protection for participants raises serious questions about official oversight.”
The Conference also commended Assin South MP, John Ntim Fordjour, for raising concerns over the matter.
According to the statement, the festival highlights tensions between global cultural influences and Ghana’s legal and moral standards.
“The event reflects a clash between globalised festival culture and Ghana’s established legal standards. An imported event cannot claim exemption from Ghanaian law. Cultural exchange must respect the host nation’s laws and values.”
The Bishops questioned the approval processes behind the event and the involvement of law enforcement.
“Who approved the permits and the deployment of police to protect participants engaged in public nudity? The Conference is deeply concerned that state agencies responsible for protecting public order may have facilitated rather than prevented this misconduct.”
The Conference further urged that investigations be conducted without political interference.
“The Conference urges all parties to allow the investigative process to proceed without undue political pressure.”
The Bishops outlined several recommendations to address the issue.
“The Conference recommends a thorough, impartial investigation with public findings; a review of permitting processes with clear decency guidelines; an inquiry into why police protection was provided; and a national dialogue on the limits of cultural expression in public spaces.”
The statement concluded with a strong warning about the implications of the incident.
“Provision of police protection for acts that breach the criminal code represents a serious failure of official duty. Enforcement of laws is urgently needed.”
