The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has clarified that it did not approve, endorse, or sanction the recently held Karnival Kingdom Festival, a five-day Caribbean-style carnival that took place in Osu, in the Greater Accra Region.
The festival drew widespread public attention after videos and nude images circulated on social media, sparking strong criticism from religious groups, social commentators, and sections of the general public.
Among those condemning the event is the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, which described the festival as unacceptable and inconsistent with Ghana’s legal, cultural, and moral standards.
The Bishops’ Conference also raised concerns over certain activities associated with the carnival and questioned how such an event was allowed to take place on the streets of Accra.
In response to the growing backlash, the GTA has distanced itself from the event, insisting it had no prior knowledge of the festival and did not grant any official approval for its organisation.
Speaking to Citi News, Bright Asempa Tsadidey, Director of Corporate Affairs at the GTA, stated that the Authority was equally surprised by the event.
He said the GTA is now collaborating with the Ghana Police Service to establish the circumstances under which the carnival was organised and held.
“We know that the Ghana Tourism Authority is deeply involved when it comes to tourists coming into the country and their activities. However, when it comes to this group of people, the GTA has no idea of what went on on the streets of Accra,” Mr Tsadidey said.
“We have not okayed, we have not endorsed, and we have not sanctioned any group of people to undertake such an exercise or event. We have already reached out to the Ghana Police Service to try to find out who the organisers are so that we can engage them.”
