We didn’t endorse Karnival Kingdom Festival — Ghana Tourism Authority

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has stated that it did not authorise or endorse the recently held Karnival Kingdom Festival, a five-day Caribbean-African cultural event held in parts of Accra from April 22 to 28.

The festival featured soca music, carnival displays, street processions, and themed parties, attracting significant public attention both on the ground and on social media.

However, the event has since come under public scrutiny, with the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference calling for investigations into alleged public nudity and possible breaches of Ghanaian laws.

The Bishops Conference has also raised concerns about the cultural and moral implications of the event, urging relevant authorities to take action.

Responding to the controversy in an interview on Accra-based Citi News, the Director of Corporate Affairs at the GTA, Bright Asempa Tsadidey, said the Authority was not involved in the planning or approval of the festival.

“We have not okayed, we have not endorsed, and we have not sanctioned any group of people to undertake such an exercise or event,” he said.

He added that the Authority was taken by surprise by the event’s execution and activities.

“We are deeply surprised,” he noted, stressing that the GTA was not aware of the organisers or their official status.

According to him, the Authority has already engaged the Ghana Police Service to identify those behind the festival for further action.

“We have reached out to the Ghana Police Service, already trying to find out the organisers of this very work so that we can engage them,” he stated.