Church leaders call for urgent investigation after police protect nude festival-goers — and ask who gave the order
Ghana’s Catholic Bishops have issued a stinging condemnation of the Karnival Kingdom Festival held in the country between April 22 and 28, 2026, denouncing scenes of public nudity that they say denigrated national values, violated the Criminal Offences Act and most alarmingly were carried out under the watchful protection of the Ghana Police Service.
In a formal Statement signed by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), and issued on Monday, May 4, 2026, the Bishops demanded an immediate and impartial investigation into the events, describing them as “an eyesore” that made a mockery of the rule of law.
“The presence of police protection for participants raises serious questions about official oversight,” the Statement declared, pointing directly to Section 278 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which prohibits acts of public indecency.
The Bishops singled out for commendation the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Hon. John Ntim Fordjour, who had separately called for accountability in Parliament, aligning his voice with the Church’s demand for answers.
Central to the Bishops’ concern is the question of governance: who approved the permits allowing the festival to proceed, and who authorised the deployment of police officers to protect participants whilst they engaged in conduct that the law explicitly forbids?
The GCBC was unequivocal in framing the crisis as one of cultural imperialism colliding with Ghanaian legal norms. “An imported event cannot claim exemption from Ghanaian law,” the Statement read. “Cultural exchange must respect the host nation’s laws and values.”
The Bishops stressed that they are not opposed to cultural festivals or international exchange, but insisted that Ghana’s established legal and moral standards must prevail — and that State agencies existed precisely to uphold, not undermine, those standards.
Calling for no political interference in the investigative process, the GCBC urged all parties — including government officials who may come under scrutiny — to allow independent inquiry to run its course without undue pressure.
The statement closes with a stark warning: the provision of police protection for acts that breach the criminal code “represents a serious failure of official duty,” and the Bishops called for the urgent enforcement of existing laws.
The Karnival Kingdom Festival has not yet issued a public response to the Bishops’ Statement. The Ghana Police Service and the relevant permitting authorities had also not commented at the time of going to press.
What the Bishops Are Calling For
A thorough, impartial investigation with findings published openly
Review of the permitting process and introduction of clear decency guidelines
A formal inquiry into why police protection was provided to participants
A national dialogue on the limits of cultural expression in public spaces
Enforcement of existing laws without fear or favour
