A thorough investigation into the Karnival Kingdom Festival, which took place from April 22–28, 2026, has been demanded by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
The conference expressed serious concerns about suspected instances of public nudity and the involvement of state security agents in the event.
The Conference described the public nudity at the Karnival Kingdom Festival (22-28 April 2026), during which participants received police protection, as extremely concerning and against Ghanaian law in a statement released by the National Catholic Secretariat.
The Bishops stated that the incident “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).”
They further emphasised that such incidents should never be accepted since they compromise the nation’s moral and legal foundation.
The statement highlights the reported presence of police personnel offering protection during the festival events as a serious cause for worry.
The Conference demanded immediate clarification from pertinent governmental institutions and questioned the rationale behind such security arrangements.
“The Demand for Investigation. 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 statement read.
The Bishops also praised John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, for openly demanding accountability on the issue, stating that his intervention is in line with the concerns expressed by the Church leadership.
The Conference also cautioned that the event is indicative of escalating conflicts between Ghana’s traditional legal and moral standards and globalised festival culture.
It maintained that cultural exchange must always adhere to the legal framework of the host nation.
“Cultural Tension Requires Discernment. 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 statement noted.
In addition to cultural issues, the Bishops brought up governance-related concerns, especially those pertaining to security deployment and permits.
They demanded accountability from the governmental organisations in charge of authorising and overseeing these kinds of public gatherings.
“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,” the statement added.
The Bishops called on all parties involved to refrain from interfering politically with enquiries.
They stressed how crucial it is to handle the situation fairly and transparently.
“No Political Interference In Investigation.” The Conference urges all parties to allow the investigative process to proceed without undue political pressure,” it stated.
The Conference’s main suggestions included a review of event permission procedures with explicit decency criteria, an unbiased investigation with publicly available results, and a formal investigation of the police’s participation in providing protection during the festival.
Additionally, it suggested a more extensive national conversation about the boundaries of cultural expression in public areas.
The Bishops concluded by cautioning that a major breakdown in governance and enforcement occurs whenever law enforcement seems to shield actions that are considered illegal.
“Provision of police protection for acts that breach the criminal code represents a serious failure of official duty. Enforcement of laws are urgently needed,” the statement ended.
Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, signed the statement.
Source: newsthemegh.com