Celebrating The Dangme Women: Larkuor Adjartey, Promoting Ga-Dangme Beauty

“A prophet is not honored in his own country” Jesus said this, but truly, it is a reality, ask Larkour Adjartey and she will tell you. Walking majestically into my office, she felt comfortably, relaxed and told me all about herself and her beauty pageant pathway for the people of the Ga-Adangme community.

I asked Lakour, I know it is not easy to survive or do something and the people will buy into your concept especially the dangme land; they will even think that you are wasting your time. So how did you do this? She called me sweet heart and said “I didn’t do it by myself; so who did it for you?’ she smiled to me and I love that smile and I was with her alone, but nothing much guys! Don’t think negatively! She said” Grace built it.’ And I thought my nurse Grace in my office but she said NO!

“I found Grace in the sight of God” She said Grace took over and brought me to where I am today and that it is only Grace that will take them to the next level. “When life doesn’t meet your expectations, it is important to take it with grace” The young exuberant, courageous lady born from the Adjartey Family in Dodowa, Matetse said this to me. “Grace is success without human connections, victory that does not depend on effort.” Promotion despite stiff competition, being uncommon out of the crowd. Grace is the hand of God moving in your life’s story, Grace is when God drops in your life blessings that you are not qualified to attain.

This drew my attention to the story of Noah and the flood. Noah by his effort and righteousness was supposed to be a dead man but God showed the green card of Grace. Grace is when your speed of progress increases beyond human expectation, Grace is when you find favor with men, and new helpers beyond your social status are connected to you.

Grace is when your little effort produces great results which do not match your effort. Grace is when God takes you from last to first. Grace is when you become the head of your mates. Grace is when your senior serves you as in the case of Joseph and David.

There is obviously no other way to success in the dangme land without you seeking for Grace from God. It is only God that can take the raw material from the dangme land and repackage it well for the world to see, because the people themselves don’t want their own people to succeed.

But in her own world, Larkour defy own odds and her name has soar in the Ga-Dangme community when beauty pageant is mentioned. That was the story of Larkour Adjartey who was rejected on several occasions when she contested many beauty pageant competitions. She now organized her own show “Face of Ga-Dangme”

Born in a family of seven, Larkour Adjartey study ICM, Software and business Management at Data Link University College (2007-2008). She later applied to Trans Africa University College to obtain her Advance Diploma in Business Management in 2011. Her Media ambition began with a short course in Radio and TV Presenting at Best Media Works. She worked with Rite FM in Somanya as mid-morning producer and Presenter after her attachment with the station in 2012 and also Vibe FM in 2008 as an intern.

Her journey in the beauty pageant industry started one day when she went to a Ga-Dangme program with the Dad. In 2010, she participated in Miss Nungua and placed 4^th. Miss Tourism and was not selected at the audition stage. In 2011, she went again and was able to manage to the 3^rd stage of the audition. Larkour Adjartey also participated in Ghana Most Beautiful season one audition and was also not selected among the finalist. But above all, and with determination, she has become a household name in the Ga-Dangme community.

She told me that “Most ladies who contested the beauty pageant are people who have no idea of the competition but as we trained them they became better ones. She grooms most of the beauty pageants organized by the dangme communities during most of the festivals organized on the dangme land. She champions the face of Dodowa project and finally she left it.

Her challenged was getting the dangme girls to contest the competition partly because of the myth surrounding the competition. She told me that some have the notion that most of them will end up being promiscuous.

So Lakour , what is your final advise to the dangme people?

“I will advise the girls to be themselves; they should do things because they desire to do it and not because someone is pushing them to do”

Larkour loves modeling and her prominence even said it all. She told me that if you desire to contest any of the beauty pageant, you should possess some characters such as being knowledgeable, beautiful, good appearance, eloquent et al.

What is so special about this year project? This year, we have partnered Men’s Health Foundation Ghana, a prostate cancer charity to use the first runner up as their Prostate Cancer Ambassador to help raise awareness on the disease. The ambassador will stage a concept to help raise funds and awareness on the disease in the country.

Lakour, so when is this year’s Miss Ga-Dangme finale? “It’s on the 19^th December at the Royal Sikafutuo Hotel , Dodowa. The rate is 10cedis only.

So what are the Prices? ‘” The first winner takes home a 38’inch Flat screen TV

2^nd picks a Table Top Fridge and the 3^rd also pick Microwave.

So who are your sponsors for this year?
“They are; Hyperlinkpromogh, Saab Photos, Gilly Gabi Designs, Macfred Hotel, Kwadate Kente Gallery.

Supporters: Osasio Fashion, We Naturals, Valley Fresh Mineral Water, JMP Video, Taden Creation, Lardis Make up & Accessories, Oklibone information Center, Akpatsupa Base, Yayaa Make –UP, Jay Kay hair & Make up.

Media Partners: I Social gh, Rite FM, Care TV, Obunu TV, Campus TV, Flex Newspaper, Green FM, The Republic and ATV.

Thank you Larkour and we will meet on the 19^th. I ended my conversation with her.

Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu:ND, MSc, PhD candidate

The writer is a catalyst for change in the dangme land and the author of the book” The state of the Dangme Land” He is a registered Integrative Medical Practitioner, specializes in prostate cancer. He is consultant, Researcher and a Prostate cancer Policy Maker.

Meet The Contestants for this Year Face of Ga-Dangme

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