My office had nothing to do with Karnival Kingdom Festival - KKD calls for dialogue

Ghana's Presidential Special Envoy to the Caribbean, Kwesi Kyei Darkwah, popularly known as KKD, has distanced his office from the Karnival Kingdom Festival that drew sharp condemnation from the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference.

He, however, called on authorities to establish clear dress standards before the country hosts a major international carnival next year.

Speaking on Okay FM on Monday, June 1, 2026, KKD said everything that transpired at the festival had nothing to do with his office, but

Called for a discussion on the way forward.

"All that transpired had nothing to do with my office. But let's ask those concerned, how expensive was it, what do we want to change about it, and what can we do to make it better?" he said.

The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference had, in a statement issued on May 5, 2026, condemned acts of public nudity witnessed at the Karnival Kingdom Festival, which ran from April 22 to 28.

The Conference described the event as "an eyesore" that "denigrated our values as a nation and breached the laws of our land," citing Section 278 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Catholic Bishops demand probe into Karnival Kingdom Festival

KKD acknowledged the Bishops' concerns were legitimate, but noted that the costumes worn by the participants were normal in their country of origin.

He traced the origins of street carnivals to Trinidad and Tobago, explaining that swimsuits and bikinis are a standard feature of Caribbean carnival culture.

"The men wear shorts and singlets, the women wear skirts and tops. But some choose to wear swimsuits and bikinis. That is called exhibitionism, and that is allowed there. But since Ghana is different, the organisers should set a standard," he said.

He suggested the parade either adopt a defined uniform for revellers or be relocated to a beach setting to avoid public decency conflicts.

He called for a balanced approach that protects Ghana's cultural sensibilities without alienating foreign visitors and the tourism revenue they bring.

"As we are tackling that, we must not be so high-handed that we discourage people from coming, because we need the tourism revenue," KKD said.

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