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Mercy-Jane’s Miss International Journey
The 61st version of Miss International, with the theme “Miss International our time has come” had 70 delegates coming from all over the world. Mercy-Jane Adorkor Pappoe is my name; a delegate who proudly represented my country Ghana and won the title of Miss International Africa at the finals.
Miss International is more than just a beauty pageant; it is a celebration of beauty with a purpose. This pageant stands with the belief that beauty should go hand in hand with altruism, cultural understanding, and the promotion of world peace. As it continues to evolve and adapt to the changing times, Miss International remains a beacon of hope and inspiration, demonstrating the power of beauty in making the world a better place.
My journey to winning the title of Miss International Africa 2023 kicked off when I arrived in Japan on October 11, 2023.
First and foremost, an orientation and a welcome party was held on October 12 – where all delegates were welcomed and given detailed information about the pageant and everything it entails. I introduced myself to and interacted with all the other delegates, had some fun and gradually warmed myself to the forthcoming event. Between the day of orientation and the grand finale, I experienced a series of events some of which included:
A trip to the Ikebana flower arrangement,
A tour to the University of Tokyo where I got to interact with the students. I also had a full spa experience at the Miss Paris Ginza. It proved to be a refreshing and soothing experience literally. I visited Tomioka town in Fukushima, where I learnt about their redevelopment after the explosion and disaster- a rather sad experience which opened my eyes to how brave and resilient the people are.
I was not going to miss the video and photoshoot session where I enjoyed posing for the camera and working with the talented photographers. It was fun and exciting. Every model relishes such an experience. Crowning it all was the grand finale which was held on October 26.
Just like all the other delegates, I did represent in my full regalia- showcasing the national costume of my lovely country Ghana. I proceeded to gracefully walk the stage in my gorgeous gown amidst cheers from the crowd. Such a breathtaking experience in itself. I was smiling from ear to ear.
The icing on the cake was when I was announced as the Continental Queen of Africa due to my exceptional talents, my beauty, and my unwavering determination among others.
Overall it was an unforgettable experience for me and the memories will linger in my mind forever.
My story is a reminder- especially to young women, that beauty, together with a great mentality, determination and focus makes every dream achievable. This accomplishment serves as an inspiration to all young individuals striving to excel in both their personal and professional lives. Mercy-Jane’s future is undoubtedly bright, and I am poised to make a lasting impact on the world.
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Focus on more pressing issues like Galamsey, not hate speech – Ellen Ama Daaku to Mahama
An aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,Ellen Ama Daaku has advised President John Dramani Mahama to shift his attention from social media hate speech to more urgent national issues such as illegal mining.
Speaking in an interview, she noted that the President’s recent comments about tracking the IP addresses of people who spread hate speech were unnecessary.
According to her, President Mahama must first define what he considers to be hate speech before seeking to punish people for it.
Ms. Daaku argued that the President himself had benefitted from hate speech and social media attacks in the past when he was in opposition.
She said even during his time in government, he described his opponents and their tribesmen in unpalatable terms, which later drew complaints from former President Nana Akufo-Addo to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
She stressed that harsh criticism of leaders on social media should not automatically be considered hate speech, adding that former leaders, including former President Nana Akufo-Addo had all been subjected to it.
“He is only feeling what Nana Akufo-Addo went through for eight years,” she remarked.
While acknowledging the need to regulate misconduct online, Ms. Daaku insisted that going after social media activists should not be a priority.
She noted that many political activists, including herself, had been insulted and attacked online but never called for arrests.
She concluded that President Mahama should focus his energy on solving pressing problems such as galamsey and the economy instead of concentrating on critics on social media.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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Prof Alidu Seidu files nomination for Tamale Central seat
The newly elected parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Tamale Central, Prof Alidu Seidu, has submitted his nomination forms to the Electoral Commission.
As of 10:00 a.m. today, he was the only person who had filed to contest the seat.
Nomination of candidates will close at the end of the day.
Associate Professor and Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana Legon, Prof. Alidu Seidu won the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries in the Tamale Central constituency with a landslide victory.
The elections, supervised by the party’s Elections and IT Directorate in the Northern Region, saw Prof. Seidu poll 840 votes out of the total valid ballots cast.
His closest contender, Lawyer Hanan Gundadow Abdul-Rahaman, secured 536 votes.
The other aspirants could not make significant gains, with Dr. Seidu Fiter obtaining 44 votes, Aliu Abdul-Hamid 23 votes, and the rest recording fewer than 10 votes each.
In all, 1,500 ballots were cast, with 6 ballots rejected and 7 spoilt ballots recorded.
The results were signed and declared by Dr. Arnold Mashud Abukari, NDC Northern Regional Director of Elections and IT.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) held parliamentary primaries in Tamale Central to choose a candidate for the upcoming by-election following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed. Dr. Mohammed, who also served as Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, tragically died in a military helicopter crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District on August 6, 2025, alongside seven others.
His passing left the Tamale Central seat vacant, as required by Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The Electoral Commission has scheduled the by-election for September 30, 2025. While the NDC moved quickly to open nominations and vet aspirants, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) announced it would not contest the seat, citing the need to respect the somber circumstances and promote national unity.
By: Jacob Aggrey
