The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has condemned the act of public nudity displayed at an event dubbed; Karnival Kingdom Festival, in Accra.
It has, therefore, demanded for an impartial investigations into the matter, describing the event as an eyesore that denigrated the values of the nation.
“The conference recommends a thorough impartial investigation with public findings; review of permitting processes with clear decency guidelines; an inquiry into why police protection was provided; and a national dialogue on limits of cultural expression in public spaces,” it said.
Statement
In a statement signed by the President of the GCBC, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, it said the conference had taken note of the public nudity at the Karnival Kingdom Festival on April 22 to 28, 2026, during which participants received police protection.
It said the event was an eyesore that “denigrated our values as a nation and breached the laws of our land (Section 278 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, Act 29).
“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 commends the Member of Parliament for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour, for his call in this direction,” it added.
Discernment
The statement further said that cultural programmes required discernment, and that the event reflected a clash between globalised festival culture and Ghana’s established legal standards.
It said an imported event could not claim exemption from Ghanaian law, and that cultural exchange must respect the host nation’s laws and values.
“Governance questions are serious. 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,” it said.
Investigations
The conference further said that there should not be any political interference in the investigations. It urged all parties to allow the investigative processes to proceed without undue political pressure.
“The conference recommends a thorough impartial investigation with public findings; review of permitting processes with clear decency guidelines; an inquiry into why police protection was provided; and a national dialogue on limits of cultural expression in public spaces,” it said.
The statement said provision of police protection for acts that breached the criminal code represented a serious failure of official duty, and as such “enforcement of laws are urgently needed”.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh