When will it ever stop is the question on the lips of many followers of the country’s number annual entertainment programme – Miss Ghana.
Controversy has been the hallmark of the contest which itself is losing that glamour and excitement that it used to generate. The story has been the same over the years and keeps most people wondering when it will ever be a clean and controversy-free contest where the eventual winner will win the respect and support of the rest.
Analytical minds are wondering whether these things that the ladies complain about are really true or are just figments of their own imagination backed by selfishness or self-seeking.
The just ended contest is no different. Our information is that all the contestants but the three eventual winners in this year’s edition have protested vehemently against the outcome and about how issues were handled.
Although most of the issues being raised by the aggrieved contestants are petty, it is important that some kind of investigation is conducted into them to find out their credibility or otherwise and a permanent solution found to this perennial problem which is in no small means, destroying gradually but surely, the beauty of the contest.
Is it the reason why many of the ladies would rather seat back, watch and criticise instead of getting involved? Who say there are not enough beautiful women in Ghana who can contest to make the pageant more competitive? Do these allegations of bias have anything to do with the abysmal performance that our ladies put up at the world stage?
In a post contest interview conducted by our reporter, some contestants who pleaded anonymity (for reasons we cannot explain) expressed shock and indignation about the verdict. “They just came to waste our time”, one an obviously disappointed contestant told the paper.
Shaida Buari, the daughter of renowned Ghanaian musician and president of MUSIGA, Alhaji Sidiku Buari, won the pageant itself. She was followed by Sandra Ankobia 19 at second place and Beverly Asamoah also 19. Among the allegations leveled against the organisers of the pageant, Media Whizz Kids is favouritism. According to the aggrieved and disappointed Miss Ghanas, the three eventual winners were openly favoured whilst the rest of them were treated with the contempt they did not deserve.
They cited an instance, when the contestants appeared on GTV’s breakfast show. They said, although Chaperon, Shirley Frimpong-Manso insisted that everybody wears the traditional “kaba”, the favoured ones preferred suits and therefore came in suits and nobody questioned them as the Chaperon did to others who did not comply to that directive. Shirley is reported to have asked sacked some of the ladies asking them to go and borrow the appropriate attire for the programme. “How can the girls come in suits whist all others were being asked to go and change. This is because they want them to overshadow us”.
How funny. Another complain is that, Ms Ghana Shaida Buari defied the laid down regulations and put on make-ups “to cover her pimples” during the pre-judgement segment. “The organisers should remember that whatever they do will come back at them. You keep doing this and people never want to participate in Miss Ghana,” an irate contestant said.
The irate contestants have also alleged that a contestant who was doing basketball for the talent hunt segment was asked to stop because Shaida was doing football. The girl was rather taught the “Adowa” dance two days to time, which according to them prevented her from delivering properly. People talk about it, all the time, but I never believe it. It is not fair for people to pay so much to be deceived at the end,” one said in anger.
Our information also have it that all three winners came from one modeling agency, “Premiere Classique” which also raises suspicions.
Question: will the organisers work to curb these complaints of bias and arm-twisting that has become associated with the pageant or treat them with contempt and allow them to recur after every contest?
Are these ladies just disappointed for losing the chance to drive home the coveted car, walk away with the name “MISS GHANA” and all the other goodies that go with the contest?
Your guess is as good as mine.
