Bakatue Festival Boosts Youth Talent and Leadership
Youth empowerment continues to take centre stage in the Edina Traditional Area as Ahomka FM and Ocean 1 TV use the annual Miss Edina Bakatue and Edina Community Gala to identify, nurture and promote the hidden talents of young people while inspiring them to become agents of positive change in their communities.
The initiative was inspired by renowned Ghanaian entrepreneur Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, who challenged the media to go beyond information dissemination by using their platforms to discover, nurture and showcase the enormous potential of Ghana's youth.
Responding to this vision, Ahomka FM and Ocean 1 TV introduced two flagship programmes—the Miss Edina Bakatue Beauty Pageant for young women and the Edina Community Gala football competition for young men. Held annually during the famous Edina Bakatue Festival, the programmes have become important platforms for youth development, leadership and community participation.
Each community within the Edina Traditional Council selects a young woman to represent it in the Miss Edina Bakatue competition, while young men form community football teams to compete in the Community Gala tournament. Beyond entertainment and competition, both initiatives are designed to empower young people, promote discipline, build confidence and create life-changing opportunities.
Participants and winners receive various rewards, including sponsored international travel, fully funded driving lessons and driver's licences, holiday experiences at Coconut Grove Beach Resort, and other valuable prizes. Outstanding footballers are also supported to pursue professional opportunities with football clubs in Ghana and abroad.
Unlike many beauty pageants that focus primarily on appearance, Miss Edina Bakatue places strong emphasis on social impact. Contestants are required to identify pressing challenges within their communities and design advocacy projects aimed at addressing them. Winners are subsequently linked with non-governmental organizations and development partners to support the implementation of these initiatives.
The 2026 edition reflects this commitment to community development through advocacy.
The winner, Anthoinette Tracy Dadzie, will champion a campaign on minimizing child abuse in the Central Region, raising awareness on child protection and encouraging communities to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of children.
First Runner-up, Priscilla Cecilia Ussher, has chosen to advocate for reducing youth unemployment in the Central Region by promoting skills development, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for young people.
Second Runner-up, Abigail Jobina Tandon, will lead the "Mind Matters: Breaking the Silence on Mental Health Among Teenage Girls" campaign, encouraging open conversations on mental health, reducing stigma and promoting access to emotional and psychological support for adolescent girls.
The advocacy projects undertaken by the contestants demonstrate that beauty pageants can serve as powerful platforms for social transformation. By empowering young women to become advocates for issues affecting their communities, the initiative is helping to develop a new generation of leaders committed to creating lasting social impact.
As preparations begin for the implementation of the winning projects, organizers are calling on government institutions, civil society organizations, corporate bodies and development partners to collaborate in supporting these youth-led initiatives.
Through the combined efforts of Ahomka FM, Ocean 1 TV, community leaders and strategic partners, the Miss Edina Bakatue and Edina Community Gala continue to demonstrate that investing in young people is an investment in stronger communities, sustainable development and a brighter future for Ghana.