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Miss Tourism Ghana holds awards party
After a successful coronation in August, the Miss Tourism Ghana organisation held its Awards Party at the JP Air BnB at East Legon where they were camped for one month to give the contestants and winners their prizes.
Though the event was an official ceremony attended by dignitaries including Mr. Kofi Kakra Kusi of the Corporate Affairs Department at the Ghana Tourism Authority, the MP of Kpando, Hon. (Mrs.) Della Sowah, Ms. Tina Appiah of GTP, Mr. Robert Amiteye of AbibiNsroma Foundation, Mad. Grace Afrifa, a patron and Special Guest Mrs. Mavis Amoa from London, for the honourees it was more of a reunion.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Events and Operations at the Miss Tourism Ghana Organisation, Delphine Brew-Hammond said, “before Miss Tourism Ghana is competition, we are a family.”
According to her, she considers the ladies her children, “after 13 years of doing this, I have many children.”
The overall winners, Miss Jemima Nyamewaa Akpandja, Miss Tourism Ghana 2021, Caroline Naa Nunoo, 1st Princess and Millicent Awienda, 2nd Princess will represent Ghana at Miss Tourism World, Miss International and Miss Lumiere on the international Stage respectively.
They received additional prize package of monthly allowances of GH₵500.00, GH₵300 and GH₵200, a watch from Caveman Watches, monthly data to browse the internet, monthly hair braiding, a year supply of fabrics from GTP, Design and Sewing of fabrics, hampers from Lele, Air Circulators and other items from NASCO, hampers from Onga, Weekend stay(s) at La Villa Boutique Hotel at Osu, two nights stay for two at the Royal Senchi Hotel and Resort, Max Beauty Products, Six weeks of treatment at the Seera Beauty Clinic, Lunch or Dinner for two at La Villa Boutique Hotel among others.
Other prizes presented were, $100 cash prize sponsored by the McCabe Foundation (Daniel and Essie McCabe) of New York to Miss Personality, Jemima Nyamewaa Akpandja, a GH₵1,000 cash prize sponsored by Miss Sonia Laryea (1st Princess, Miss Tourism Ghana 2013) to Miss Eloquent, Claudia Nana Oye Debrah.
Also, Miss Culture, a prize that encompasses a weekend stay for two with full complement at the Accra City Hotel, was presented to Miss Wendy Sung-Suma, while Miss Vote, an award that comes with a weekend stay for two at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel with full complement, went to Miss Millicent Awiendi.
Whereas Miss Catwalk, a GH₵500 cash prize sponsored by Emmanuella Awedana Apuri (2nd Princess Miss Tourism Ghana 2019) went to Miss Caroline Naa Nunoo, the Miss Fashion Show was won by Miss Jemima Nyamewaa Akpandja who received two GTP Fabrics courtesy GTP, Miss Fitness, a prize that entails a documentary shoot with the official Miss Tourism Ghana Fitness Trainer Loyce Fitness, was awarded to Miss Millicent Awiendi, while Miss Clear Skin went to Miss Daniella Sekyibea Sackey who won a Cosmetic Beauty Box with Makeup.
Addtionally, Miss Wellness which comes with having lunch or dinner for two at the La Villa Boutique Hotel at Osu was awarded to Miss Raheenatu Sumaila, and Miss Swimwear was won by Miss Caroline Naa Nunoo–the prize is two nights at the Royal Senchi Hotel and Resort with full complements.
Miss Neat Hair went to Miss Anthoinette Yawa Aryee who won an electronic hair straightening brush sponsored by NASCO.
All the contestants received a bigger hamper from Lele Foods. They also got either a blender or Rice Cooker from NASCO, sundry items from Onga, and GTP Fabrics.
Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says more than 15,000 Ghanaian workers have lost their jobs following a directive issued by the Chief of Staff.
According to him, the dismissals affected not only people employed after the 2024 general elections, as stated in the directive, but also workers who had been lawfully employed as far back as 2017.
Raising the issue on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the Minority uncovered evidence showing serious excesses in the implementation of the directive.
“We became aware that although the letter was specific to those recruited after the 2024 elections, Ghanaian youth who were employed as far back as 2017 were all dismissed from their lawful employment,” he said.
He explained that the Minority filed a motion in Parliament to investigate the matter, which was admitted by the Speaker. However, the process has faced several delays.
According to him, the Majority Leader raised a preliminary objection to the motion, which was upheld by the First Deputy Speaker. The Minority later filed a motion for review under the rules of Parliament, which was also admitted.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin said the review motion was moved by him and seconded by the Member of Parliament for Ofoasi- Ayirebi, while the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor , began the debate on behalf of the Majority side.
He noted that the House was expected to continue the debate the following Tuesday to allow the Speaker to rule on the matter, but this has not happened due to other parliamentary business.
“Several times the motion appeared on the Order Paper, but we could not take it,” he stated.
The Minority Leader stressed that the delay is having serious consequences for affected workers and their families.
“This is a matter that affects the livelihood of Ghanaians. We have in excess of 15,000 Ghanaian youths affected by this directive, and they are still at home,” he said.
He added that the Minister for Employment has acknowledged receiving petitions on the issue and has initiated investigations, but said that should not stop Parliament from carrying out its own inquiry.
“These Ghanaian youths are sitting at home. Their wives, their extended families are all affected. It has been over a year, and they are not getting any justice,” he added.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin appealed to the Leader of Government Business to ensure that the motion is included in Parliament’s report and debated to allow the House to make a final decision on the matter.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Director of Communications for the United Party, Solomon Owusu, has expressed strong disappointment following the Supreme Court decision to quash the rerun of the Kpandai parliamentary election.
Mr Owusu made his views known while reacting to the ruling, stressing that he would feel deeply disappointed if he were in the position of Matthew Nyindam, the current Member of Parliament for Kpandai.
He explained that the High Court had earlier examined the case in detail and arrived at a clear determination on the matter.
According to him, the High Court found that the election was compromised and that rigging took place with the involvement of the Electoral Commission.
Mr Owusu pointed out that when the New Patriotic Party moved the case to the Supreme Court, it did not challenge the substance of the High Court findings.
He stated that the appeal was based purely on a point of law, arguing that the National Democratic Congress was time barred when it went to court, and not that the alleged rigging did not occur.
In his view, this means that Mr Nyindam remains in Parliament through an election process that did not reflect the true will of the people of Kpandai.
Mr Owusu noted that this was why he had expected a rerun of the election, to allow the MP to return to the constituency and properly establish his authority through the ballot.
He explained that a rerun would have given Mr Nyindam the opportunity to prove that he genuinely won the 2024 parliamentary election.
With the rerun now quashed, Mr Owusu questioned how the MP could celebrate or take pride in the court outcome.
He stressed that he would no longer take contributions made by Mr Nyindam in Parliament seriously, as the legitimacy of his mandate remains questionable in his view.
Mr Owusu further argued that the Supreme Court decision has shortchanged the people of Kpandai.
He described the ruling as unfair to voters who woke up early on election day, queued patiently, and voted for a candidate of their choice, only for their will to be undermined.
According to him, the outcome raises serious concerns about justice, electoral credibility, and respect for the democratic rights of the people.
By: Jacob Aggrey
