Two Miss Universe organisers play 'Tom and Jerry' as one declares this year's event illegal

Two main organisers of the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant - Insignia and Roberta Annan Consulting [RAC LLC] - have resorted to playing 'Tom and Jerry' with what is otherwise, one of the the most reputable pageants in the World.

In what appears to be a collapsed joint venture agreement, Insignia, has declared this year's pageant which is only hours away, as illegal.

The disagreement between the two organizers is one of many controversies that have rocked the pageant in the last few months.

Winner of the 2012 Pageant, Gifty Ofori is yet to be given all the prize package advertised last year.

The package publicised by last year's organizers, Insignia Experience and RAC Group included an official car, accommodation for a year, participation in the 61st Miss Universe pageant in the US, a three-month internship at the United Nations (UN) in New York, and a presentation and modeling portfolio shot by celebrity photographer, Fadil Berisha in New York.

Ofori was also to receive a Samsung Note 2 phablet, four pages editorial spread in an international magazine, personal celebrity stylists in New York, Los Angeles and Accra and also management and representation by the Insignia Experience/RAC Group as well as a year of incredible experience of celebrity status and adventure.

Till date, the beauty queen had only receive the Samsung Galaxy phablet, represented Ghana at Miss Universe pageant in the US and also benefited from a photo shoot.

According to Gifty, she has no idea as to when organizers will fully fulfill their promise to her especially when they do not answer her phone calls.

Roberta Annan Consulting [RAC LLC], current organizers of this year's pageant in a statement issued Wednesday said last year's edition of the pageant was organized by Insignia Experience with the help of their outfit and based on their working agreement at the time; Insignia was responsible for the event as well as providing the winner with the prizes she deservedly won.

But Ayite Okyne, a director of Insignia speaking in an interview with Myjoyonline.com from the United States said his outfit has dragged RAC to court over certain discrepancies with their partnership agreement they jointly signed last year and that until the courts says otherwise, this year's Miss Universe Pageant is illegal.

According to him, Insignia and RAC had a joint venture agreement to jointly organize the pageant for some years and any party who decides to leave that agreement will have to wait for five years before dealing with clients or organizing the pageant.

He said with regards to that agreement, RAC cannot in anyway organize the 2013 Miss Universe Ghana pageant and any attempt to crown a winner will be in clear breach of their joint venture agreement.

Ayite noted that RAC was supposed to give 50 percent of the funds needed for the pageant annually, get sponsorship for the pageant and also pay all cheques into an account with the name Insignia/RAC. He stated that RAC has failed to fulfill any of the above agreements.

He expressed strong reservations with RAC's decision to distance itself from allegations levelled against organizers by the winner of the 2012 pageant that she has not received some of the prizes she is entitled to when in fact RAC was supposed to honour those prizes.

Ayite noted that the name of their joint venture was Insignia/RAC and that Insignia has received no documentation requesting the dissolution of that venture.

According to him, the confidentiality clause of that agreement has been breached by RAC and also has failed to raise 50 percent of the agreed budget.

The Insignia director revealed that Gifty has received some of her prizes including a Galaxy Note 2 phablet and a trip to the US for the Miss Universe pageant but added there are clauses in the agreement with the pageants that some of the prizes could not be legally claimed.

The clauses are as follows: “Prizes and awards from the Miss Universe Ghana Pageant competition are not legally claimable. Internships and training are not redeemable for cash.”

“The producers of the Miss Universe Ghana Pageant are not responsible for paying any taxes for any prizes the contestants receive (the term prizes, gifts and awards is understood as the financial performance, products or services, travel, accommodations, etc.); lost or stolen prizes; or the failure of sponsors to provide the promised prizes, awards and benefits, although The Insignia|RAC Group assures contestants that it will perform in the best interest of the contestant to collect such prizes, award or benefits from the supplier of the prize.”

“Prizes, awards and benefits may be subject to change at the discretion of the producers of the Miss Universe Ghana Pageant.”

Due to this clause, organizers have expunged the house they were supposed to give last year's winner.

Ayite however stressed that they are working round the clock to give Gifty her car although he could not give a specific date on which it will be done.

New Queen
In spite of this, RAC will be crowing a new queen Friday night at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.

Ten finalists - Akua, Albie, Ama, Emerald, Georgina, Hanniel, Helen, Mya, Olivia and Stacy - are vying for the crown this year.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Ernest Dela Aglanu (Twitter: @delaXdela / Instagram: citizendela)