Catholic Bishops questions State complicity, Police role in festival nudity, demands sanctions

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has raised serious concerns over what it describes as possible state complicity and the role of law enforcement in the organisation and conduct of the Karnival Kingdom Festival, where incidents of public nudity were reported.

In a statement issued on May 4, 2026, and signed by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the Conference expressed strong disapproval of the events that took place between April 22 and 28, 2026, noting that participants engaged in public nudity while receiving police protection.

The Bishops described the situation as “an eyesore” that undermines Ghana’s moral and legal framework, citing Section 278 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and questioning how such conduct was permitted in a public space.

Central to the statement is concern over governance and institutional accountability. The Bishops questioned who authorised permits for the festival and why security agencies were deployed to protect participants allegedly involved in acts that contravene national law.

They warned that the involvement of state institutions in such circumstances raises troubling questions about oversight and responsibility, and called for clarity on whether proper regulatory procedures were followed.

The Conference further highlighted what it sees as a growing tension between globalised festival culture and Ghana’s legal and cultural standards, stressing that cultural expression must remain within the limits of the law.

“The presence of police protection for acts that breach the criminal code represents a serious failure of official duty,” the statement noted.

The Bishops are therefore demanding sanctions, alongside a review of permitting processes and a national reflection on the regulation of public events. They also called for transparency in how law enforcement agencies are deployed at such gatherings.

Assin South MP, Hon. John Ntim Fordjour, was commended by the Conference for raising concerns about the incident.

The statement concludes with a call for accountability and strict enforcement of Ghana’s laws to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

The issue has since sparked public debate, with growing attention on the role of state institutions in regulating public events and upholding moral and legal standards.