A security expert has cautioned women to be mindful of their dressing choices in public, noting that extremely revealing outfits, such as overly short skirts that expose undergarments, could lead to legal consequences under Ghana’s public decency laws.
Speaking on an Accra-based Neat FM, the expert Samuel Nana Appiah Owusu, explained that while fashion and personal freedom of expression are respected, certain outfits could be deemed indecent exposure under Ghanaian law — a misdemeanour that attracts fines or imprisonment.
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“You have to be mindful of the way you dress whenever you step out, especially if you are a lady. Your breasts should be properly covered, and your panties should cover the areas they are supposed to cover,” he said.
The interpretation, he said, is often left to law enforcement and can depend on the setting, level of exposure, and public reaction.
“If you go to a party and your skirt is so short that your panties are visible, you can also get into legal trouble,” Nana Appiah added.
He clarified that these laws were not created to restrict personal freedom but to safeguard public morality and maintain Ghana’s cultural values.
He said “Such rules exist to ensure the moral fabric of society remains intact. What you wear at home should be different from what you wear in public.”
Several security analysts have supported the call for awareness, saying that while enforcement varies, young women and event-goers should understand the risks associated with provocative dressing in short skirts in public spaces.
Some members of the public, however, believe the focus should shift from women’s clothing to tackling harassment and assault, arguing that fashion choices should not be criminalised.
The expert maintained that the warning is not to police women’s fashion but to encourage discretion and awareness of existing laws.
As Ghana continues to modernise, the debate around modesty, legality, and personal freedom in fashion remains a recurring public conversation — one that highlights the intersection of culture, law, and individual rights.
