Entertainment
The Journey from 1957: Miss Ghana, a pageant changing society
The first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame founded the Miss Ghana Beauty Pageant as an initiative in 1957 to offer the “Independent” Ghanaian woman a platform to positively impact society.
As Ghana marks 64 years since the country liberated itself from colonial rule, The Spectator tracks how the scheme has kept this mission and impacted society.
The current organisers believe that the core idea, Beauty with a Purpose, has not changed though the role of women in society keeps evolving.
Maiden competition
Ms. Monica Amekoafia, Volta Region’s representative who won the very first Miss Ghana competition in 1957, had early on participated in both the District and Regional events which she came tops, prior to the main competition.
After conquering the two competitions in her home Region, she represented her people at the Accra Community Centre where she contended for the Miss Ghana title with other representatives from the Eastern and Western Provinces as well as the Ashanti and Northern Territories.
Social interventions
The organisers, Exclusive Events, in an interview with The Spectator, said “there is an umbrella body, Miss Ghana Foundation, which coordinates various projects the scheme embarks on. Over the years, past Miss Ghana queens have taken up different social projects that help transform and positively impact lives of the most vulnerable or less privileged in society.”
The Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Ms. Inna Patty, a former Miss Ghana winner, said the scheme focused on, Health, Environment, Education, the Aged and Streetism in various communities to bring smiles on the faces of dejected people.
Provision of potable water: In partnership with National Petroleum Authority the foundation constructed a Mechanized Borehole for the people of Nabuli in Gushegu District of the Northern Region.
Health: As ambassadors of National Blood Bank the foundation helps to encourage Ghanaians to donate blood voluntarily and frequently through various blood drives and sensitisation workshops.
They have been raising funds to sponsor the cost of corrective surgeries of children suffering from Spinal deformities known as Scoliosis at the Foundation of Orthopaedics and Complex Spine (FOCOS) Hospital in Accra.
Miss Ghana winners have been actively involved in various health campaigns including, The Protect the Goal, UNAIDs, Feminine Hygiene clinics in partnership with Tobinco Pharmaceuticals & Embassy of France, and buruli ulcer, infant maternal mortality among others laudable programmes of national concern.
Recently, they embarked on COVID-19 protocol sensitisation and donations of PPE since the disease struck the country last year.
In the area of education, they had embarked on Women in IT programme with IPMC, Mentorships in some Senior High Schools, provision of scholarships and the Don Bosco Project.
Additionally, they had donated food, clothing, organised medical screening and supplied drugs to the aged and orphanages in the country.
Challenges According to the organisers, embarking on some of these projects was capital intensive and not meant for the faint hearted.
They believed some participants did not see the platform as a patriotic or sacrificial one to help impact other lives. Some are mainly interested in the cash, car and crown. This smacks of self-centredness.
Future
“We shall continue to empower our young women, because, an empowered woman is powerful beyond measure and beautiful beyond description, as brilliantly articulated by Steve Maraboli,” Ms. Patty said.
No Pageant
It is on record that Miss Ghana Competition was put on hold in1961-1966, 1969-1985, 1991-1993, 2011, 2014, 2016.
However, the 2013 Winner of Miss Ghana, Guiseppina Nana Akua Baafi is said to have resigned.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
THE president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) Mr Bessa Simon has described criticism against a donation made to the family of the legendary Yaw Sarpong as misleading and a means to tarnish their image.
According to him, GH¢500 donated to the family during one week observance wasn’t the final funeral contribution but a symbolic amount to help with refreshment during the one week observance.
• Yaw Sarpong
He told the Spectator Agoro that the Union will make a formal donation at the funeral to the icon in the gospel industry.
“Giving an amount at one week is a common practice and shouldn’t overshadow Yaw Sarpongs legacy” he added
Meanwhile others praised MUSIGA for showing solidarity, others condemned the amount, describing it as inadequate and disrespectful to the legacy of the veteran singer.
Yaw Sarpong, born in Accra, emerged as one of Ghana’s most influential gospel musicians and a defining voice in contemporary Christian music across West Africa.
Rising from humble beginnings and shaped by the political and social turbulence of post-independence Ghana, he transformed gospel music with a distinctive blend of spiritual depth, lyrical clarity, and disciplined musical arrangement.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah, Ghana’s celebrated child prodigy and youngest achiever ever recorded in the Guinness World Records’ 70-year history is set to captivate audiences at the upcoming Ghana Independence Day celebrations in Beijing, China.
The Ghana Embassy in the People’s Republic of China will host series of events culminating on March 6, 2026, to mark Ghana’s 69th Independence Anniversary, with Ace Liam’s artwork prominently featured.
As part of the Embassy’s cultural initiatives, an art exhibition will showcase creative works by top Ghanaian artists including Ace Liam and renowned artist Ibrahim Mahama.
The exhibition aims to celebrate Ghana’s vibrant cultural heritage and foster closer cultural ties between Ghana and China.
At just 3 years old, Ace-Liam has earned acclaim for his innovative artistic talents. His participation in the Independence Day events highlights the role of young Ghanaian artists in promoting the country’s rich culture on a global stage.
Ambassador Kojo Bonsu, during a press soiree held on February 5, 2026, emphasised Ghana’s commitment to deepening its relationship with China through cultural exchange and economic collaboration.
The planned events will also include a business forum and a fashion show by Nineteen57, blending traditional and modern Ghanaian styles.
This will be Ace-Liam’s second international art exhibition after his debut in Barbados at the GUBA Awards.
In 2025, he received an award at the UK Parliament House of Commons as a Global Child Prodigy in Arts. He was also awarded the Kid Creator of the Year at the Creators Awards Ghana 2025.
In a related development, Ace-Liam Ankrah has been recognised as a Young Achiever in the Guinness World Records Book 2026 edition, becoming the youngest achiever in the organisation’s 70-year history.
Featured in the special anniversary edition marking seven decades of global excellence, Ace-Liam joins a distinguished group of record holders and global icons such as Simone Biles, Usain Bolt, and Dolly Parton. His achievements have made a lasting impact worldwide, capturing international attention through the extraordinary power of early childhood creativity.
This latest recognition by Guinness World Records marks a defining milestone not only for Ace-Liam, but also for Ghana and the African creative community. It highlights the importance of nurturing creativity from an early age and demonstrates the extraordinary possibilities that emerge when talent is supported and allowed to flourish.
Reacting to this news, Ace-Liam’s Mother/Manager Chantelle Kuukua Eghan remarked, ‘Ace-Liam being featured in the 2026 Guinness World Records Book as a Young Achiever is a dream come true. I feel blessed and super excited to be his mother. This is not just a win for him, but a win for all kids in the world.’’
Ace-Liam’s artistic journey began at just six months old when his mother, Ghanaian visual artist Chantelle Kuukua, laid out a canvas and paints to keep him engaged while she worked on a commissioned piece.
What began as a simple moment of curiosity quickly revealed something remarkable. Within minutes, he created his first artwork, later titled The Crawl, a vibrant expression that marked the beginning of an exceptional creative path.
Edem Mensah –Tsotorme
