¢20m Prize For Miss Malaika

THERE cannot be a modern-day pageant with more flexible terms — no height restrictions, dress size of contestants between 10 and 14, must be Ghanaians and between the ages of 18 and 30 years. That is about all the Miss Malaika Ghana pageant asks from contestants.

These were announced at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel last Friday where the event was officially launched by Nana Akomea, Minister for Information.

Guests were entertained with the screening of last year’s event before Mrs Theresa Ayoade of Charterhouse Productions, the event organisers briefed the audience about what the whole pageant was about.

According to Mrs Ayoade, Miss Malaika Ghana is the national Miss Malaika pageant which will produce a delegate to represent Ghana at the continental Miss Malaika pageant. It is the first Pan-African cultural beauty pageant , internationally recognised and broadcast live throughout the continent.

Two editions of the event have been staged so far, South Africa in 2001 and Zimbabwe in 2002. In the first edition telecast live on GTV Miss Ivy Heward-Mills represented Ghana and did the country proud by coming a close second.

Again, the second edition saw Ghana’s Cheryl Boatemaa Adjepong coming among the top five contestants.

Mrs Ayoade indicated that the Ghana event is going to be a Beauty Reality TV event which means that the public who are interested in real life situations will be given the opportunity to see what the contestants go through before they are finally presented on the night of the final event.

The winner of the Miss Malaika International pageant will represent the youth of Africa at the NEPAD Commission and so will the winner of the Ghana event will also serve as an AIDS Ambassador attached to the Ghana AIDS Commission, which is one of the major sponsors of the event.

The winner of Miss Malaika Ghana 2003 takes home ¢20 million cash, will have use of an official car — a KIA Sephia from Rana Motors with comprehensive insurance, 29 inch flat screen Sony TV and DVD courtesy Sony Centre and personal accident insurance from Phoenix Insurance.

She also gets a return ticket to South Africa for Miss Malaika courtesy of South Africa Airways, one year free moblie phone subscription, personal wardrobe for one year and a year’s attachment with the Ghana AIDS Commission.

The first runner-up gets ¢5 million cash, 25 inch Sony colour television and DVD from Sony Centre and one year free mobile phone subscription while the second runner-up takes home ¢3 million cash, 21 inch Sony colour television and DVD courtesy Sony Centre and a year free mobile phone subscription.

Outlining the process to the final event, Mrs Josephine Ofori, the event co-ordinator said selection preliminaries will be held in Kumasi, Takoradi and Accra to select four finalists in each area at a private judging session.

The final twelve finalists will then be “camped” for grooming and familiarisation courses during which footage will be taken for TV shows which will comprise Talent Night, Eloquence Night and Fashion Night. The grand finale is scheduled for November 20, this year.

Before unveiling the Miss Malaika logo to officially launch the pageant, Nana Akomea expressed his appreciation to the organisers for coming up with such a event. “ He said that he was keen to be part of the launch since it is very difficult to come by something truly African these days. Throwing a challenge to the organisers, Nana Akomea said “if it is a Charterhouse production, it must be good.”

The brief yet impressive ceremony saw a surprise performance by TV presenter Jackie Ankrah. Backed by her producer Eric Antonio on the keyboard, she did a beautiful piece in Ga titled Shidaa and the popular Malaika song.

Another exciting moment of the launch was the screening of people’s views on who an African beauty was, some members of the audience nearly choked with laughter as people gave their opinions. Ever-smooth Kofi Okyere Darko was host for the night.