Another best from the West

A BEAUTY connotation was given to the adage “the best comes from the west” when Shaida Buari another representative from the Western Region won the Miss Ghana 2002 crown last Saturday.

Her predecessor Selasi, Miss Ghana 2001 also represented the Western Region last year when she won the crown. The Club Pleasure Miss Ghana Pageant last Saturday lived up to its accolade as the number one entertainment programme in the country.

Attracting the creme de la creme of society in its usual glitzy manner, it presented the best of fashion by the patrons, beauty and brains by the contestants, sound judgement by the judges and top class artistic performances by the best on the entertainment scene. And applause after applause signalled the pleasure of the patrons to the actions that unfolded before their eyes.

After going through their paces in beach wear, and displaying their talents, answering questions from the judges, giving their messages and answering further questions, 20-year-old Shaida Buari aspiring to enter the University of Ghana to study law emerged as Miss Ghana 2002.

For her prize she received a sleek brand new Seat Ibiza car, a ticket to Miss World, ¢3 million for Miss World wardrobe, ¢500,000 monthly allowance for a year and the prestige of being acknowledge worldwide as Ghana’s foremost beauty with brains for a year.

She was followed by 19-year old Sandra Ankobia, also aspiring to enter the university, representing the Ashanti Region who took away a double door fridge, a set of furniture and ¢2.5 million for career enhancement.

The third prize of a 20” television set, a set of furniture and ¢2 million for career enhancement was collected by Beverly Asamoah Jecty, a 19-year-old student representing the Brong Ahafo Region.

Four special awards with prize money of ¢1 million each were won. Miss Personality voted for by all the contestants and sponsored by Accra Brewery went to 19-year-old Ho Polytechnic student, Akusika Euphemia Ahedor.

Sandra Ankobea, 19-year-old and aspiring to enter the university, adjudged the most creative for miming a typical “Burger” took the award for Miss Talent.

Shaida Buari, the eventual winner, took the remaining awards of Miss Eloquence and Spectacular Gown.

With three top comperes Kwesi Kyei Darkwa, Akosua Puni and Kwame Sefa Kayi with Doris Ansah of GTV as director of the show, the programme considered one of the finest in a long time, took off on a high note.

Set design was a simple but sophisticated affair that changed with each section. For the ladies swim-wear section, the background portrayed a beach scene and a boat placed upright of the stage, with four men who mimed various movements in conformity with the contestants who all held baskets as they moved about to show their attributes.

The talent hunt was an entertaining segment and won the applause of the capacity crowd as one contestant after another presented their pieces.

While some recited poems, others danced. But of particular interest to the audience was Shaida’s miming of a football player, Sandra’s mimicking of a ‘burger’ and 21-year-old Dove Luguchegi Western Regional representative’s display of Tae Kwan Do prowess.

Question time with the contestants was beautifully handled by the MCs who had a beautiful background of high rise building on the set.

The ATL Fashion Splash featuring dresses designed by Jimi Delaja and Ivana using the soundtrack for the famous ‘passage of life’ advert of ATL was also very beautiful.

Catwalking across the stage, by the models the simple but very sophisticated outfits of casual and evening wears were exhibited to the joy of audience.

The question times for all contests and the final eight of Aku Sika, Shiela, Shaida, Beverly, Sandra Ankobia, Evelyn, Sandra Benefo-Darkwa and Angela, were revealing as the girls gave very intelligent answers to their questions. Their messages and subsequent answers to questions from the MCs were also very good.

But it was not all beauty, brains and fashion. Daasebre Dwamenah and Daddy Lumba rocked the auditorium with songs from some of their albums. However, Lumba was the one who really got the whole auditorium dancing, nodding their heads or tapping their feet.

Of course, Adjetey Sowah was available to twirl and turn with support from a group of dancers to the delight of the audience who all had a good night judging by the applause, to contestants and performers.

The lady supporting Daasebre Dwamena in his songs was near vulgar in her dance movements and some in the audience were not amused.

On the whole it was a wonderful show and patrons did not only have an entertaining night but had souvenirs from ATL to remind them of the wonderful evening. The Mcs were in their element and good accounts of themselves.

Miss Ghana was sponsored by Club Beer and Akosombo Textiles Limited with donations from Buck Press, Ghana Airways, GBC, Graphic Showbiz, Irroko, Kapital FM, Labadi beach Hotel, Masai Motors Ltd., Peace FM, Radio Gold and Revlon.