Beauty pageant contestant passes away

Accra, April 7, GNA - Fati Issaka, one of the 10 finalists of the Portrait of an Excellent Woman beauty contest, died on Monday, Ms Aisha Bukari, Event Manager, announced at the press conference in Accra. The death of Madam Fati, a retired nursing mother who also manages the Anfaani Children's home in Tamale, came as shock to event organizers and journalists since a press conference organised on Monday was mainly to update journalists on the event to be held at the National Theatre on May 9, 2008.

Ms Bukari, who was addressing the press conference, was called aside and minutes afterwards announced: "I have just been informed that Fati is dead."

Fati was representing the Northern Region in the Portrait of an Excellent Woman beauty pageant which is meant to honour Ghanaian women who have taken steps to bring positive change in their communities. Grandma Fati, as she was popularly called, was a widow with three children and four grandchildren, but has nurtured over 40 children in her orphanage in Tamale.

Ms Bukari told journalists that the pageant, which was supposed to be an annual event, was for women who were 50 years and above and resident in Ghana.

She said the women had already gone through a screening process and were feverishly preparing for the May 9 event where one of them would be crowned Miss Excellent Woman.

"Throughout history, many nameless and faceless women have taken extraordinary strides to positively affect their communities with their wisdom, compassion and courage, even though they have not been documented or commended," she said.

Ms Bukari said on the day of the event, the amazing stories of the women will be told and they would be given the opportunity to deliver brief but powerful messages to inspire the youth, especially young girls.

She called on the general public to patronize the event and said the event would honour "10 mothers of Ghana who stand united in their shared vision of self-nation building".