NDC Senior Member Condemns “Naked Carnival” in Accra, Urges President Mahama to Act

A senior member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region has publicly denounced viral videos showing men and women in revealing costumes parading through Accra, describing the event as “immoral” and “un-Ghanaian.”

Hon. Alexander Attivor Sawyer, who is the longest serving Vice Chairman of the NDC in Ashanti Region, said the footage circulating on social media shows a “carnival” with “naked, or almost naked, women and men walking on the streets of Accra, from Osu to vital parts of the city.”

“This is not our culture. This is not Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana. This is not what we as a country stand for,” Attivor said in a statement. “This is not Ghanaian, so I don’t understand why leaders and traditional authorities allow this to happen in our country.”

“It is uncalled for”

Hon. Attivor was emphatic in his criticism, repeating that the event had no place in Ghana’s public space. “It is uncalled for, and I will mince no words. It is uncalled for,” he said. “Elsewhere, it could be their culture, but introducing this naked women on our streets doesn’t represent the Ghanaian culture.”

He stressed that the procession was not a protest or demonstration that might justify provocative dress. “Here daylight, walking naked, and it’s not a demonstration… This is very immoral, and this should be the first and last thing to happen.”

Appeal to President Mahama and Ministers

The NDC official directly called on President John Dramani Mahama to intervene. “I call on President Mahama, the leader of our party, and President of the Republic of Ghana, to look into this issue,” Hon Attivor said.

He also questioned the role of government officials. “The Interior Minister, my good friend, and several key ministers in this government, why did they sanction such a thing?” he asked. “Whoever sanctioned that carnival, that carnival festival in Ghana with naked women on the streets did not do us the honor as a morally proud country.”

Addressing the President again, he added: “Your Excellency, look into this issue. It doesn’t portray our country well as a morally proud country.”

Call to “embrace our Ghanaianness”

Hon. Attivor framed his objection around national identity and public morality. “This is high time we continue to embrace our Ghanaianness in terms of our morality,” he said. “Elsewhere, as I said from my start, it could be an entertainment, but here… it doesn’t portray our country at will as a morally proud country.”

He indicated that further action would follow. “In the coming days, we are reaching out to higher authority, but this is just to prompt leadership,” he noted. “In the coming days, I’ll be issuing statements regarding this.”

Social media footage sparks debate

The videos referenced by Hon Attivor began trending on X, TikTok, and Facebook late Thursday, May 1. The clips show dozens of participants in body paint, beads, and minimal clothing moving through parts of Osu and other central Accra locations. Drumming and music accompany the procession, which resembles Caribbean-style carnival events.

While some online users defended the event as artistic expression and part of a growing festival culture in Accra, others echoed Sawyer’s concerns about public decency and cultural values.

Questions over permits and sanction

As of Saturday evening, it remains unclear which state agency, if any, granted permits for the procession. The Ministry of the Interior, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and the Ghana Tourism Authority have not issued statements confirming or denying involvement.

Traditional authorities in the Osu Traditional Area have also not commented publicly on whether they were consulted or gave approval for the event to pass through their jurisdiction.

Political dimension

Hon. Attivor’s intervention is significant because it comes from within the governing NDC. As the longest serving vice chairman member of the party in Ashanti Region, his comments may increase pressure on the Mahama administration to clarify its position on public performances and decency standards.

What happens next

Civil society groups focused on arts and culture have in the past called for clearer guidelines on public festivals, balancing creative expression with Ghana’s criminal code on indecent exposure. Section 278 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) addresses “indecent exposure,” but enforcement has varied depending on context, intent, and location.

Hon. Attivor insists his aim is to protect Ghana’s image. “We are a morally proud country,” he said. “We must act like it.”