The Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo has commended the Miss Ghana organization, the oldest pageant in the country.

According to the President, he was impressed with the organization’s various social interventions which has been spearheaded by various winners of the pageant. He said the Miss Ghana pageant “is of real value to Ghana.” The President was speaking at the Flagstaff House on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 when Exclusive Events Ghana, Organisers of the Miss Ghana pageant paid a courtesy call on him. The organization congratulated the President on his victory in the December 2016 elections and on Ghana’s 60^th independence anniversary.

The visit was to afford the organisers the opportunity to inform the President of the plans for this year’s pageant (in line with the Country’s 60^th independence anniversary) and the future hosting of the Miss World pageant in Ghana. Inna Mariam Patty, CEO of Exclusive Events, who led the delegation which included three former pageant winners, told the president that the Miss Ghana pageant, over the years, had succeeded in promoting Ghana onto the world stage. The former queens present were Sheila Azuntaba Miss Ghana 1996, Afia Marfo Miss Ghana 1998, Selasie Kwawu Miss Ghanan 2001. He also commended the past award winners for their commitment to the Miss Ghana projects.

The Chief Executive Officer of EEGL said winners of the pageant, also concentrated their efforts on the aged, educational, health and environmental sectors of the Ghanaian economy, stating that one of the flagship projects undertaken by the Miss Ghana organisation is the Don Bosco Street Child Project.

“We helped acquired a 10-acre land and built a hostel, where a lot of street children and those who cannot afford to pay their fees are given technical and vocational education. In the last 10 years, we have trained a lot of youth who can also contribute their quota to society,” she said.

With regards to healthcare projects, Inna Patty mentioned that several previous Miss Ghana winners had contributed immensely to minimise infant and maternal mortality rates, especially in the three northern regions. On the environmental front, she revealed that pageant Organisers have partnered with the Forestry Commission to carry out various tree planting exercises across the country. To this end, she indicated that “we are hopeful that the proposal of having national support to host the world event (Miss World pageant) will be given a favourable consideration. Countries lobby to host this prestigious event annually, as it generates millions of dollars in revenue and investment for the successful country. We are hopeful that in the nearest future Ghana, will be ready to host such an event.”
President Akufo-Addo, who thanked the delegation for the courtesy call, further described the Miss Ghana beauty pageant as “an event that promotes and sells the country.” It is for this reason that the President added that the Miss Ghana pageant “is something that should be of concern to all ” since it promotes Ghana as a viable investment and tourism destination.

The ‘Miss Ghana 60 Years On’ beauty pageant is expected to be organised in August this year, as part of the yearlong celebration of the 60th independence anniversary celebration.