The Christian Council of Ghana has thrown its support behind the stance of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference over events that unfolded during the 2026 Karnival Kingdom Festival, describing reports of public nudity at the event as a serious affront to Ghana’s moral and legal standards.
In a media statement dated May 6, the Council said it “aligns fully” with the Catholic Bishops’ condemnation of the incidents that reportedly occurred during the festival, held between April 22 and 28.
The Council said the public display of nudity during the event constituted a violation of public decency and contravened Section 278 of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
According to the statement signed by its Chairman, Rt. Rev. Dr. Lt. Col. B. D. K. Agbeko, such conduct undermines the country’s moral fabric and erodes the cultural values that define Ghanaian society.
“The events at the Karnival Kingdom Festival represent not just a lapse in judgment, but a serious challenge to the rule of law and the values we uphold as a nation,” the statement said.
The Christian Council also raised concerns over reports that some participants allegedly received police protection during the event.
It said the development raises serious questions about the conduct of state institutions tasked with maintaining law and order, and backed calls for a full, transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the festival, including how permits were granted and the rationale behind the deployment of security personnel.
The Council noted that while it supports cultural exchange and international engagement, such interactions must be conducted within the framework of Ghana’s laws, traditions and societal norms.
“Imported cultural expressions cannot supersede the legal and moral standards that govern public life in our nation,” it stressed.
It further called for accountability from institutions responsible for safeguarding public morality, insisting that public agencies must not be perceived to endorse or shield actions that contravene established laws.
The Council urged non-interference in any investigative processes and cautioned against politicising the matter.
Among its recommendations, the Christian Council called for an independent investigation with findings made public, a review of event permitting processes to include clear public decency guidelines, accountability for any misuse of state resources, including police protection, and a broader national conversation on the limits of cultural expression in public spaces.
The Council said it stands firmly with the Catholic Bishops in calling for urgent corrective measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
