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BlueCrest College honours Miss Ghana 2020
Management and staff of the Blue Crest College in Accra have honoured the winner of Miss Ghana 2020, Monique Mawulawe Agbedekpui for raising the college’s flag high in Ghana and beyond.
She was presented a cheque of GH¢17,000 to enable her accomplish the ambassadorial work as a crowned Queen on a project she is executing to benefit society.
Rector of the school, Dr Anand Agrawal said that Miss Monique put up a sterling performance to beat other contestants in the finals to win the crown.
He stated that there were four pillars of Blue Crest College, including Innovation, Preparation, Technology and Leadership, which equip students who graduate from the school to be industry ready and problem solvers to any society they find themselves.
As part of Blue Crest College’s goals to make positive impacts in the society, Dr Agrawal charged the beauty queen to also make progress by adding value to society in her ambassadorial project.
Head of Fashion Department at the College, Madam Mercy Ampofowah Osei expressed joy to have a Miss Ghana from the School of Fashion Design, adding that Miss Monique was enrolled into the higher diploma fashion design in 2016 and completed in 2018.
According to her, the beauty queen excelled mostly in practical work as she portrayed creativity and talent in her drawing, which produced extraordinary results in her project.
Miss Monique expressed gratitude to management of Blue Crest College, for the honour done her.
She said that, her project which would be starting from now to December, included distribution of PPE from next week, blood donation next month, an entrepreneurial session in November for the young ones who could not go to school.
Miss Monique did fashion and design and wants to assist those who would not get means to pay their school fees and want to make liquid soap and other products.
She will be having ‘clothe a child in December’, which would be a collaboration with Blue Crest for children who do not have clothes to wear especially during major festivities.
She will be seeking for sponsorship as well to embark on the project and also on scoliosis, breast cancer among others.
She advised the youth to persevere and never allow inferiority complex to ruin their dreams and ambitions.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
Firefighters from the Upper West Regional Command have responded to a vehicular incident involving a long vehicle carrying 35 Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC totes) reportedly containing hydrogen peroxide at Goriyiri in the Nadowli-Kaleo District.
The five-member crew, led by ASTNO Balagee, reported to the scene where a fire and an explosion had reportedly occurred.
The firefighters assessed the scene, identified the chemical hazards and implemented appropriate response measures, bringing the situation under control.
The driver reportedly sustained severe chemical burns and was transported to the hospital for treatment.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, spokesperson to NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has called on the government and Parliament to undertake major reforms in Ghana’s prison system, including the construction of a dedicated prison hospital and the introduction of regulated conjugal visits.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Dr Boakye-Danquah shared Chairman Wontumi’s observations and recommendations following his remand on July 20, 2026.
According to the statement, Chairman Wontumi’s experience in prison has given him the opportunity to interact with prison officers and inmates and observe the challenges facing the Ghana Prisons Service.
The statement noted that the NPP chairman believes the correctional system must move beyond punishment to focus on rehabilitation, welfare and productivity.
One of his major concerns is the lack of dedicated, well-equipped prison hospitals, ambulances and standby generators in several prison facilities.
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi had raised concerns about the difficulties in providing medical care to seriously ill inmates, including those suffering from tuberculosis.
He is therefore calling for the construction of a modern prison hospital to serve facilities across the country. In the interim, he has proposed emergency arrangements with the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital.
On the welfare of prison officers, Chairman Wontumi has urged the government to review their salaries, accommodation and conditions of service.
He has also called for proper classification of inmates, arguing that minor offenders should not be housed alongside armed robbery convicts and that persons facing trial for serious offences, including treason and terrorism, should be appropriately separated from other inmates.
The statement further highlighted concerns about the need for counselling and behavioural support for young inmates, particularly those serving sentences for defilement-related offences.
Chairman Wontumi has also called for a clear policy on the classification and management of LGBTQI+ inmates within the prison system.
On family relationships, he has proposed the creation of designated private areas where prisoners can receive visits from their spouses and children.
He believes regulated conjugal visits could help preserve marriages, reduce tension among inmates and support rehabilitation.
“The prisoner is the one in prison, not the children or spouse,” the statement noted, explaining his position on the need to protect family relationships during incarceration.
Chairman Wontumi has appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support prison farms with the necessary equipment to improve food production.
According to the statement, the Ghana Prisons Service has access to vast lands and skilled labour but faces a shortage of agricultural equipment, with only one tractor reportedly available for farming and garbage-related activities.
He has further proposed greater collaboration between prison authorities and the justice sector, suggesting that regional prison commanders should be included in relevant discussions because of their knowledge of prison conditions and inmate rehabilitation.
On infrastructure, Chairman Wontumi has called on the government and private sector to invest in modern prison facilities and factories, arguing that the system has seen limited structural improvements over the years.
Appeal to Parliament
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi had made a special appeal to Parliament to lead efforts towards comprehensive prison reform.
He is urging the Speaker of Parliament to initiate discussions on prison conditions as a human rights and national development issue.
He has also called on the Majority and Minority caucuses to work together to pass a new Prison Reform Act and approve funding for a dedicated prison hospital, ambulance services, standby generators and agricultural equipment.
Additionally, he wants the Parliamentary Select Committees on Defence and Interior, Health, and Food and Agriculture to undertake working visits to prisons across the country to assess conditions firsthand.
According to the statement, Chairman Wontumi believes bipartisan cooperation between the Majority and Minority caucuses is necessary to secure the legal and financial reforms required to improve the prison system.
He has called for broader prison reforms across Africa, expressing hope that Ghana could lead the continent in improving correctional facilities.
Reflecting on his experience since July 20, Chairman Wontumi stated: “At this experience since July 20th till date, prison doesn’t reform as it should be. I pray that the entire Africa will learn from Ghana.”
The statement added that Chairman Wontumi remained in high spirits.
By: Jacob Aggrey
