BEAUTY PAGEANT LAUNCHED AT KOFORIDUA (PAGE 23, JULY 11)

A BEAUTY pageant aimed at giving the country an opportunity to showcase and promote its tourist destinations and products to the world has been launched at Koforidua.
The event dubbed: “The Miss Tourism Beauty Pageant”,would seek to use the beauty of Ghanaian women to portray the various economic benefits of the country’s tourism industry.
   It would be targeted at young and beautiful women aged between 18 and 30 who are single and have sound mind and possessed a minimum qualification of senior high school and above.
The first ever tourism beauty pageant would also aim at assessing the knowledge of the bevy of ladies about the Ghanaian culture, environment and tourist attractions.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr Kwabena O. Akyeampong, stressed the need for Ghanaians to appreciate their culture and practice as part of their contribution to promote the country’s tourism industry.
He, therefore, encouraged the people to take delight in wearing Ghanaian clothing and accessories to all occasions,especially during the Miss Tourism Ghana this year.
“Since Ghanaian fabrics and ornaments form an integral part of Ghana’s culture and by nurturing and promoting it, we will be helping to preserve our culture for posterity as well as boost the economic benefits of tourism”, Mr Akyeampong stated.
He added, “The promotion of tourism will bring along economic dividends to our talented artisans through gainful employment opportunities and the creation of wealth”.
Given the relevance and importance of the event, the deputy minister was optimistic that corporate bodies, artisans, individuals and development partners would support it in order to make it a success.
The event organiser, Mrs Delphine Brew Hammond, said the ultimate winner who would be presented with a brand new car and GH¢5,000 cash, would also represent the country at the Miss Tourism Africa slated for South Africa next year.
“While the first runner-up will receive a laptop, a colour television set and GH¢10,000 cash, the second runner-up will receive GH¢5,000”, she stated.