Saturday, July 18, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 46)
By Rebecca Kwei
It is a new beginning for 28-year-old, Bern Mensah with the clothing line Jenesus (Genesis - the beginning) who was adjudged the best up-and-coming designer in Ghana.
The competition for amateur designers was held as part of this year’s Fashion Weekend to unearth young creative talents in the fashion.
During the auditioning, the best eight young designers, namely, Klekleli Dzidienyo, Elimens, Quami Wear, Rowena Adjivon, Salimi, Bern Mensah, Doreen Lartey and Miriam Yentumi were selected.
However, Miriam Yentumi dropped out and she was replaced by Rita.
On July 1, which was the first day of the Fashion Weekend, the eight amateur designers showcased their designs which received high marks from the audience at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The number was pruned down to four — Bern, Salimi, Klekleli and Doreen.
The French Embassy which sponsored the competition also selected two young designers namely Atsu and Tei to bring the number of finalists to six.
At the final competition which was held at the residence of the French Ambassador to Ghana, Francis Huatut, on July 14, which also happened to be France National Day, the six designers justified why they were in the finals.
Diva Bibie Brew opened the show when she sang the national anthems of both Ghana and France.
The finalists then showcased a design each which was the product of a one-week workshop held for them under the tutelage of Cameroonian designer, Angi-Haif.
Angi-Haif won a competition for up-and-coming designers two years ago in Niger.
To prove to the judges that they had what it took to be crowned as the best up-and-coming designer,the finalists again exhibited three different outfits of their own.
In the end, it was a ‘close call’ between Bern and Salimi but the judges, Sima Ibrahim, CEO of Exopa Model Agency, organisers of the event, Angi-Haif and Valerie Lesbros of the French Embassy settled on Bern.
“I was elated when I was declared the winner but then it occurred to me that this is where the actual work begins” said Bern in an interview.
For his prize, Bern will be sponsored by the French Embassy to France for two weeks to study under one of the top designers there.
Bern who has a degree in Communication Design from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) said when he goes to France, he would not only be an observer but would try and make contacts which would help him in the fashion industry.
He said fashion was not only about the arts but it had a business aspect and he was hopeful the trip would expose him to that side as well.
Aside making clothes, Bern also does accessories such as bags and footwear.
He said he did a minor in fashion design and product design while studying for his degree at KNUST and he decided to go into fashion after school after one of his lecturers who had seen some stuff he had created encouraged him.
Bern said he would work hard to make his designs not only well known in Ghana but across the globe.
According to Sima Ibrahim, he was happy that his agency had played a part in unearthing new talents in the fashion industry.
He was hopeful that this would encourage many up-and-coming designers to participate in the competition when it comes up again next year.
For next year, Sima said the competition would also be open to amateur designers from other African countries.
He indicated that Exopa Model Agency was in the process of getting a database for designers and appealed to interested designers to contact the agency.
He said there are a lot of designers in the country but they do not know who to contact neither to they get the platform to showcase their designs and that the database will help the agency to have a variety of designers to showcase their talent whenever there was a fashion show.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The obamas are here
Saturday, July 11, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 3)
Compiled by: Rebecca Kwei
US President, Barack Obama, his wife, Michelle, and two children, Malia Ann and Natasha Obama touched down at the Kotoka International Airport last night and they were met on arrival by President John Evans Atta Mills and other government officials.
Presidents Obama and Mills are expected to hold a breakfast meeting this morning. According to news reports former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum will also be at the breakfast meeting.
After the breakfast meeting, President Obama and Michelle will then head to the La township where they will visit the La General Hospital.
Today seems a busy day for President Obama as he will be at the Accra International Conference Centre where he is expected to make a major policy statement on Africa.
The US first family will then depart for Cape Coast where he will be received by the Oguaa Omanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II at his palace. The Oguaa chiefs will honour Mrs Obama with the title of queen after which they will tour the Cape Coast Castle.
After Cape Coast, the Obamas will return to Accra today and Presidents Obama and Mills will address a conference at the Kotoka International Airport before saying goodbye to Ghana.
President Obama is the third US President to visit Ghana. The first was Bill Clinton with his wife, Hillary, in 1998 and George Bush and wife, Laura in 2008.
“This historic visit is a testimony to the very warm and friendly relations between our two countries. It is rare that a developing country like ours has had the privilege of receiving three sitting American presidents under two different administrations in Ghana,” the Minister of Foreign Affair, Alhaji Mohammed Mummuni said in Parliament.
In an interview with All Africa on why he (President Obama) picked Ghana as the first place to visit in sub-Saharan Africa , he said “Well, part of the reason is because Ghana has now undergone a couple of successful elections in which power was transferred peacefully; even in a very close election. I think that the new President, President Mills, has shown himself committed to the rule of law; to the kind of democratic commitment that ensure stability in a country. And I think that there is a direct correlation between government and prosperity. Countries that are governed well, that are stable, where the leadership recognises that they are accountable to the people and that institutions are stronger than any one person, have a track record of producing results for the people. And we want to highlight that.”
President Obama’s visit to Ghana has been described by many as historic and about 507 media men both international and local have applied to cover the event and reports also say hotels in Accra and Cape Coast are fully booked.
Compiled by: Rebecca Kwei
US President, Barack Obama, his wife, Michelle, and two children, Malia Ann and Natasha Obama touched down at the Kotoka International Airport last night and they were met on arrival by President John Evans Atta Mills and other government officials.
Presidents Obama and Mills are expected to hold a breakfast meeting this morning. According to news reports former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum will also be at the breakfast meeting.
After the breakfast meeting, President Obama and Michelle will then head to the La township where they will visit the La General Hospital.
Today seems a busy day for President Obama as he will be at the Accra International Conference Centre where he is expected to make a major policy statement on Africa.
The US first family will then depart for Cape Coast where he will be received by the Oguaa Omanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II at his palace. The Oguaa chiefs will honour Mrs Obama with the title of queen after which they will tour the Cape Coast Castle.
After Cape Coast, the Obamas will return to Accra today and Presidents Obama and Mills will address a conference at the Kotoka International Airport before saying goodbye to Ghana.
President Obama is the third US President to visit Ghana. The first was Bill Clinton with his wife, Hillary, in 1998 and George Bush and wife, Laura in 2008.
“This historic visit is a testimony to the very warm and friendly relations between our two countries. It is rare that a developing country like ours has had the privilege of receiving three sitting American presidents under two different administrations in Ghana,” the Minister of Foreign Affair, Alhaji Mohammed Mummuni said in Parliament.
In an interview with All Africa on why he (President Obama) picked Ghana as the first place to visit in sub-Saharan Africa , he said “Well, part of the reason is because Ghana has now undergone a couple of successful elections in which power was transferred peacefully; even in a very close election. I think that the new President, President Mills, has shown himself committed to the rule of law; to the kind of democratic commitment that ensure stability in a country. And I think that there is a direct correlation between government and prosperity. Countries that are governed well, that are stable, where the leadership recognises that they are accountable to the people and that institutions are stronger than any one person, have a track record of producing results for the people. And we want to highlight that.”
President Obama’s visit to Ghana has been described by many as historic and about 507 media men both international and local have applied to cover the event and reports also say hotels in Accra and Cape Coast are fully booked.
Soul Food stars spice up fashion weekend
Saturday, July 4, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 39)
By Rebecca Kwei
It was no sham — Boris Kodjoe, the German-Ghanaian actor and designer, and his wife, Nicole Ari Parker, were indeed in Accra to participate in this year’s Ghana Fashion Weekend 2009.
Boris, well known for his role as Damon Carter and Nicole as Terri Joseph in show time drama ‘Soul Food’ added a special touch to the event with their presence.
At the opening fashion show on Wednesday, July 1 in the evening, eight up and coming designers showcased their talent.
The eight namely, Elimens, Quami Wear, Rowena Adjivon, Salimi, Bern Mensah Doreen Lartey and Rita made casual and formal outfits for both men and women .
The budding designers incorporated new trends of puff sleeves, balloon/parachute skirts and maxi summer dresses in the outfits they made using local fabrics.
As the Exopa models hit the runway with the designs of the amateur designers there were loud cheers of appreciation.
According to Sima Ibrahim, the CEO of Exopa Model Agency, organisers of the event, the fashion show for the amateurs was the preliminary stage and another contest will be held on July 14 at the residence of the French Ambassador to Ghana to select the best up-coming fashion designer who will be sponsored by the French Embassy to France to develop his or her talent.
The surprise of the night was when after Exopa models wearing hot pants and had showcased specially designed muscle t-shirts of Barack Obama by London-based Jojo Castilo, Sima Ibrahim together with Boris who wore a -shirt with the inscription “Welcome home” also hit the runway briefly.
Later in a speech, Boris said he was excited to be home and grateful to the organisers of the event.
Mr Ibrahim said organising the event had not been easy but he never gave up and thanked sponsors for their support.
Ace designers, Kofi Ansah of Ghana, Pepita D of Benin and Modella of Nigeria also exhibited their designs.
The Exopa kid models were also a delight to watch in the new range of Da Viva fabrics.
Ghana’s fastest rapper, Sarkodie and Kwaw Kesse entertained the audience.
Ghana Fashion Weekend ends today with a mega fashion show at 7 p.m. at the International Conference Centre.
There will also be a football gala in which Boris would feature at the FC Nania Park, Legon at 12 noon.
By Rebecca Kwei
It was no sham — Boris Kodjoe, the German-Ghanaian actor and designer, and his wife, Nicole Ari Parker, were indeed in Accra to participate in this year’s Ghana Fashion Weekend 2009.
Boris, well known for his role as Damon Carter and Nicole as Terri Joseph in show time drama ‘Soul Food’ added a special touch to the event with their presence.
At the opening fashion show on Wednesday, July 1 in the evening, eight up and coming designers showcased their talent.
The eight namely, Elimens, Quami Wear, Rowena Adjivon, Salimi, Bern Mensah Doreen Lartey and Rita made casual and formal outfits for both men and women .
The budding designers incorporated new trends of puff sleeves, balloon/parachute skirts and maxi summer dresses in the outfits they made using local fabrics.
As the Exopa models hit the runway with the designs of the amateur designers there were loud cheers of appreciation.
According to Sima Ibrahim, the CEO of Exopa Model Agency, organisers of the event, the fashion show for the amateurs was the preliminary stage and another contest will be held on July 14 at the residence of the French Ambassador to Ghana to select the best up-coming fashion designer who will be sponsored by the French Embassy to France to develop his or her talent.
The surprise of the night was when after Exopa models wearing hot pants and had showcased specially designed muscle t-shirts of Barack Obama by London-based Jojo Castilo, Sima Ibrahim together with Boris who wore a -shirt with the inscription “Welcome home” also hit the runway briefly.
Later in a speech, Boris said he was excited to be home and grateful to the organisers of the event.
Mr Ibrahim said organising the event had not been easy but he never gave up and thanked sponsors for their support.
Ace designers, Kofi Ansah of Ghana, Pepita D of Benin and Modella of Nigeria also exhibited their designs.
The Exopa kid models were also a delight to watch in the new range of Da Viva fabrics.
Ghana’s fastest rapper, Sarkodie and Kwaw Kesse entertained the audience.
Ghana Fashion Weekend ends today with a mega fashion show at 7 p.m. at the International Conference Centre.
There will also be a football gala in which Boris would feature at the FC Nania Park, Legon at 12 noon.
Fashion Weekend takes off July 1
Saturday, June 27, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 46)
By Rebecca Kwei
All is set for this year’s Ghana Fashion Weekend which will take place at the Accra International Conference Centre from July 1-4, 2009.
The event is a blend of modelling shows and fashion exhibition and it is aimed at promoting and attracting investments to the African fashion industry.
It is on the theme “Harnessing Creative Talents within Africa” is the theme for the event.
“We are ready and looking forward to a successful fashion programme. It promises to be the biggest fashion in Ghana. An event full of colour, style, glamour and splendour,” said Sima Ibrahim, the CEO of Exopa Model Agency, organisers of the event.
Being one of the biggest fashion shows to be held in Ghana, Mr Sima said 100 local and foreign Exopa models including Miss Venezuela as well as 30 kid models will hit the runway to showcase outfits of eight local and 13 foreign designers.
The designers are Kofi Ansah, Allan David, House of Eccentric, Nallem, Kiki Clothing, Kennedy (winner of Sew Project) all from Ghana, Alphadi from Niger and Modela from Nigeria.
The rest are Osman D and Alain Niava both from Cote d’Ivoire, Amaduo Diop, Senegal and Pepita D, Benin.
The main side attraction for the event is that Boris Kodjoe, the German-Ghanaian actor and designer, who owns the Ziami Clothing lines, will be in Ghana to grace the occasion. He will be accompanied by his wife, Nicole Ari Parker, who is also an actress.
Boris, well known for his role as Damon Carter in show time drama ‘Soul Food’, will showcase his designs.
Aside exhibiting his designs, Boris will also use the opportunity to learn more about the Africa fashion and film industries.
Boris and Nicole founded a non-profit organisation in honour of their daughter, Sophie Kodjoe who suffers from spina bifida, a common birth defect in the US, affecting the brain and/or spine and he (Boris) will give a talk on spina bifida while in Ghana.
On the programme outline, Mr Sima, said the exhibition of fashion products and accessories will be open in the morning of July 1 which will be followed by a press conference in the evening.
A fashion show by eight amateur fashion designers have been selected to feature in this year’s Ghana Fashion Weekend will then take place.
The best up-coming fashion designer will be sponsored by the French Embassy to France to develop his or her talent.
The rest of the days will feature exhibitions and fashion shows in the evening and the event will be climaxed with a mega fashion show on July 4.
Mr Sima was hopeful that the fashion weekend 2009 will put Africa’s fashion industry on the world map and appealed to corporate bodies to support the event.
By Rebecca Kwei
All is set for this year’s Ghana Fashion Weekend which will take place at the Accra International Conference Centre from July 1-4, 2009.
The event is a blend of modelling shows and fashion exhibition and it is aimed at promoting and attracting investments to the African fashion industry.
It is on the theme “Harnessing Creative Talents within Africa” is the theme for the event.
“We are ready and looking forward to a successful fashion programme. It promises to be the biggest fashion in Ghana. An event full of colour, style, glamour and splendour,” said Sima Ibrahim, the CEO of Exopa Model Agency, organisers of the event.
Being one of the biggest fashion shows to be held in Ghana, Mr Sima said 100 local and foreign Exopa models including Miss Venezuela as well as 30 kid models will hit the runway to showcase outfits of eight local and 13 foreign designers.
The designers are Kofi Ansah, Allan David, House of Eccentric, Nallem, Kiki Clothing, Kennedy (winner of Sew Project) all from Ghana, Alphadi from Niger and Modela from Nigeria.
The rest are Osman D and Alain Niava both from Cote d’Ivoire, Amaduo Diop, Senegal and Pepita D, Benin.
The main side attraction for the event is that Boris Kodjoe, the German-Ghanaian actor and designer, who owns the Ziami Clothing lines, will be in Ghana to grace the occasion. He will be accompanied by his wife, Nicole Ari Parker, who is also an actress.
Boris, well known for his role as Damon Carter in show time drama ‘Soul Food’, will showcase his designs.
Aside exhibiting his designs, Boris will also use the opportunity to learn more about the Africa fashion and film industries.
Boris and Nicole founded a non-profit organisation in honour of their daughter, Sophie Kodjoe who suffers from spina bifida, a common birth defect in the US, affecting the brain and/or spine and he (Boris) will give a talk on spina bifida while in Ghana.
On the programme outline, Mr Sima, said the exhibition of fashion products and accessories will be open in the morning of July 1 which will be followed by a press conference in the evening.
A fashion show by eight amateur fashion designers have been selected to feature in this year’s Ghana Fashion Weekend will then take place.
The best up-coming fashion designer will be sponsored by the French Embassy to France to develop his or her talent.
The rest of the days will feature exhibitions and fashion shows in the evening and the event will be climaxed with a mega fashion show on July 4.
Mr Sima was hopeful that the fashion weekend 2009 will put Africa’s fashion industry on the world map and appealed to corporate bodies to support the event.
HIV infection in low risk population high
Saturday, June 27, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 34)
By Rebecca Kwei
A study on the distribution of new HIV infections in Ghana show that over a one-year period the highest proportion of infection occurred among the general, low risk population.
The general, low risk population accounted for 30.2 per cent of infection, while individuals involved in casual heterosexual sex with non-regular partners was 15.5 per cent.
The Programme Manager of the Non-communicable Diseases Unit of the Ghana Health Service, Dr William Bosu, presented the findings at a dissemination forum in Accra which was organised by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and UNAIDS.
Giving a background to the study, Dr Bosu said the UNAIDS Modes of Transmission model was applied to an epidemiology and response synthesis project in Ghana to estimate the distribution of new infections and also to identify those populations at highest risk of HIV infection.
He said when the inputs from the epidemiological synthesis report was used, the model generated 13,437 new HIV infections in Ghana in 2008.
According to the findings, clients of sex workers accounted for 6.5 per cent and sex workers 2.24 per cent, while female partners of clients accounted for one-fifth (22 per cent) of all new infections.
Dr Bosu said sex work thus accounted for 31 per cent of all new infections over a one-year period, adding that “over a longer time period, this figure would be considerably higher, since some of the HIV infections in men in the low-risk and casual heterosexual sex groups are likely to have been contracted from female sex workers (FSWs) by men who were previously clients of FSWs.
The study further revealed that 23 per cent of new infections occurred in high risk groups, namely, injecting drug users (IDUs), men who have sex with men (MSM) and FSW and their regular partners.
Dr Bosu noted that contrary to general perception that MSMs are an insignificant group, they contributed 7.2 per cent of all new infections.
However, he said the population sizes used for high-risk groups such as FSWs, IDUs and MSM were basically speculative and the results should be interpreted with caution.
Additionally, reliable national estimates of the percentage of men who buy sex in Ghana were also not available.
Medical injections and blood transfusions together accounted for about 0.4 per cent of all new infections.
On recommendations, Dr Bosu said there were several data gaps, including size of most-at-risk populations (MARPs) and there was an urgent need to address that.
Furthermore, the study recommended that there was the need for more socio-political openness about MSM activities in order to easily identify them and provide MSM-friendly preventive and clinical services.
In his presentation on a ‘Preliminary 2008 DHS Report — Ghana-HIV Component’, a Technical Director of the GAC, Dr Richard Amenyah, said although awareness of AIDS was universal, in-depth knowledge on how to prevent it needed to improve.
Furthermore, he said risky behaviour in terms of multiple partnerships and engaging in higher risk sex was on the increase and there appeared to be a disconnect between knowledge and practice.
Dr Amenyah said “the 69 per cent reduction for funding for prevention intervention of HIV and AIDS between 2005 and 2007 has to be reversed if we want to see positive behavioural change and aversion of new HIV infections”.
The acting Director-General of the GAC, Mr Maxwell Addo, said in view of the enormous challenges HIV and AIDS posed to the nation, there was the need for collaborative actions to promote national response in the fight against the pandemic.
A reproductive health consultant, Prof Fred T. Sai, who chaired the programme, said it was important for scientists and clinicians to help politicians to follow the right policies.
By Rebecca Kwei
A study on the distribution of new HIV infections in Ghana show that over a one-year period the highest proportion of infection occurred among the general, low risk population.
The general, low risk population accounted for 30.2 per cent of infection, while individuals involved in casual heterosexual sex with non-regular partners was 15.5 per cent.
The Programme Manager of the Non-communicable Diseases Unit of the Ghana Health Service, Dr William Bosu, presented the findings at a dissemination forum in Accra which was organised by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) and UNAIDS.
Giving a background to the study, Dr Bosu said the UNAIDS Modes of Transmission model was applied to an epidemiology and response synthesis project in Ghana to estimate the distribution of new infections and also to identify those populations at highest risk of HIV infection.
He said when the inputs from the epidemiological synthesis report was used, the model generated 13,437 new HIV infections in Ghana in 2008.
According to the findings, clients of sex workers accounted for 6.5 per cent and sex workers 2.24 per cent, while female partners of clients accounted for one-fifth (22 per cent) of all new infections.
Dr Bosu said sex work thus accounted for 31 per cent of all new infections over a one-year period, adding that “over a longer time period, this figure would be considerably higher, since some of the HIV infections in men in the low-risk and casual heterosexual sex groups are likely to have been contracted from female sex workers (FSWs) by men who were previously clients of FSWs.
The study further revealed that 23 per cent of new infections occurred in high risk groups, namely, injecting drug users (IDUs), men who have sex with men (MSM) and FSW and their regular partners.
Dr Bosu noted that contrary to general perception that MSMs are an insignificant group, they contributed 7.2 per cent of all new infections.
However, he said the population sizes used for high-risk groups such as FSWs, IDUs and MSM were basically speculative and the results should be interpreted with caution.
Additionally, reliable national estimates of the percentage of men who buy sex in Ghana were also not available.
Medical injections and blood transfusions together accounted for about 0.4 per cent of all new infections.
On recommendations, Dr Bosu said there were several data gaps, including size of most-at-risk populations (MARPs) and there was an urgent need to address that.
Furthermore, the study recommended that there was the need for more socio-political openness about MSM activities in order to easily identify them and provide MSM-friendly preventive and clinical services.
In his presentation on a ‘Preliminary 2008 DHS Report — Ghana-HIV Component’, a Technical Director of the GAC, Dr Richard Amenyah, said although awareness of AIDS was universal, in-depth knowledge on how to prevent it needed to improve.
Furthermore, he said risky behaviour in terms of multiple partnerships and engaging in higher risk sex was on the increase and there appeared to be a disconnect between knowledge and practice.
Dr Amenyah said “the 69 per cent reduction for funding for prevention intervention of HIV and AIDS between 2005 and 2007 has to be reversed if we want to see positive behavioural change and aversion of new HIV infections”.
The acting Director-General of the GAC, Mr Maxwell Addo, said in view of the enormous challenges HIV and AIDS posed to the nation, there was the need for collaborative actions to promote national response in the fight against the pandemic.
A reproductive health consultant, Prof Fred T. Sai, who chaired the programme, said it was important for scientists and clinicians to help politicians to follow the right policies.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Miss Ghana starts in Wa
Saturday, June 20, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 46)
By Rebecca Kwei
Wa, the capital of the Upper West Region will tonight host the first of the regional events of the Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship.
Media Whizzkids, the original franchise holders of the Miss Ghana pageant who has taken over the management and production of the popular event from Sparrow Productions at the end of a five-year deal, has promised a well repackaged event which it hopes will produce a Miss World from Ghana by the end of 2011.
The regional nation-wide public format of the event which made it one of the best entertainment shows in the country, was lost during the last five editions of the event and according to the Managing Director of Media Whizzkids, Mr Christopher Adama, the company was ready to go to all 10 regions of the country in search of a worthy beauty queen and a dance champ.
Mr Adama said further that the public will this time have some say in who represents them at the Miss Ghana final. Unlike previous editions where judges selected two beauties to represent each region, three contestants will now be selected and the public will vote to choose the one to go through to the final event in Accra.
“Our aim is to make the event more interactive by giving the public a chance to make an input,” Mr Adama said in a chat with The Mirror. “We think it would be exciting for everyone to participate in coming up with who wears the regional crown and eventually, the national crown.”
For the dance segment, individuals or groups can register to participate.
Musicians King Ayisoba, Kawa Stone and Sherifatu Gunu will perform at Wa.
This year, the winner of the beauty contest will drive away a fresh Tata Safari four-wheel drive as well as represent Ghana at the Miss World contest and sponsors’ products while the dance champ receives GH¢5,000 plus sponsors’ products.
The next regional event will be in Bolgatanga on Friday, June 26 while the Northern Region will take its turn on Saturday, June 27, in Tamale.
This year’s Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship is sponsored by PHC Motors, DDP, Bonaqua, Labadi Beach Hotel, ABL, Danny’s Decoration, GTV, Somovision, Soundcheck, Trendsetters and Graphic Showbiz.
By Rebecca Kwei
Wa, the capital of the Upper West Region will tonight host the first of the regional events of the Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship.
Media Whizzkids, the original franchise holders of the Miss Ghana pageant who has taken over the management and production of the popular event from Sparrow Productions at the end of a five-year deal, has promised a well repackaged event which it hopes will produce a Miss World from Ghana by the end of 2011.
The regional nation-wide public format of the event which made it one of the best entertainment shows in the country, was lost during the last five editions of the event and according to the Managing Director of Media Whizzkids, Mr Christopher Adama, the company was ready to go to all 10 regions of the country in search of a worthy beauty queen and a dance champ.
Mr Adama said further that the public will this time have some say in who represents them at the Miss Ghana final. Unlike previous editions where judges selected two beauties to represent each region, three contestants will now be selected and the public will vote to choose the one to go through to the final event in Accra.
“Our aim is to make the event more interactive by giving the public a chance to make an input,” Mr Adama said in a chat with The Mirror. “We think it would be exciting for everyone to participate in coming up with who wears the regional crown and eventually, the national crown.”
For the dance segment, individuals or groups can register to participate.
Musicians King Ayisoba, Kawa Stone and Sherifatu Gunu will perform at Wa.
This year, the winner of the beauty contest will drive away a fresh Tata Safari four-wheel drive as well as represent Ghana at the Miss World contest and sponsors’ products while the dance champ receives GH¢5,000 plus sponsors’ products.
The next regional event will be in Bolgatanga on Friday, June 26 while the Northern Region will take its turn on Saturday, June 27, in Tamale.
This year’s Miss Ghana and National Dance Championship is sponsored by PHC Motors, DDP, Bonaqua, Labadi Beach Hotel, ABL, Danny’s Decoration, GTV, Somovision, Soundcheck, Trendsetters and Graphic Showbiz.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
12 Wannabe stars unveiled
Saturday, June 13, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 46)
By Rebecca Kwei
For the next 13 weeks, 12 wannabe music stars will pit their talents against one another for the title of Star of the Future.
The 12, comprising seven ladies and five gentlemen, who were unveiled at the National Theatre on Tuesday, are Akosua Kyeremanten, Rachel Cochrane, Lillian Lanquaye-Tetteh, Pearl Farkye, Daniel Essel and Bright Korley Martey,
The rest are Christian Owusu, Rose Pomaney, Enoch Larbi, Nelson Narh, Bertha Bridget Kankam and Nyaneba Attuah.
Twenty contestants made it out of the over 700 who auditioned for the series and the number pruned to the final 12.
If their performances at the launch were anything to go by, then the judges face an uphill task because the contestants have real musical talents.
Although it was the first time many of the 12 contestants were performing live to a large audience, they managed to excite the audience with their joint performance.
The contestants were given pep-talks by some industry gurus such as Abraham Ohene Gyan, Amandzeba and Sammi Helwani on what to expect once they enter the competition and how to conduct themselves in order to survive in the music industry.
The next 13 weeks promise to be exciting in the search for the voice of a new generation, and to determine this the contestants will be put through different tests, with themes like Pop Night, Highlife Night, Gospel Night and Oldies Night. The number of contestants will be reduced till the final show which has been slated for August 22, 2009.
According to Ms Juno Turkson, the Public Relations Executive of Charterhouse, the National Theatre will be the home of the Stars of the Future as the weekly performances will be recorded to a live audience at 7 p.m. every Friday for the duration of the series.
She said the contestants would also be coached on stage performance, song writing, choreography and basic knowledge in copyright and artistes management.
The judges for this season are ace radio presenter, Doreen Andoh; producer extraordinaire, Zapp Mallet, and the CEO of EKB records, Kiki Banson.
The Music Director of the series is Mr Johny Fingers, while Master Mix Studios will provide sound, with music by the resident band, the Shabo Crew.
The series is currently airing on GTV, with the performance show airing at 3 p.m. every Sunday and the eviction show at 9.30 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Those who miss these shows can look forward to the Stars of the Future radio edition.
Stars of the Future series is a Charterhouse production, with sponsorship from MTN, Coca Cola, Castle Milk Stout and Somovision.
Fans of the various contestants are urged to vote for their favourites to stay in the competition by sending their names to MTN short code 1750. The public makes 70 per cent of the decision of who leaves the show and who stays on till the finals.
By Rebecca Kwei
For the next 13 weeks, 12 wannabe music stars will pit their talents against one another for the title of Star of the Future.
The 12, comprising seven ladies and five gentlemen, who were unveiled at the National Theatre on Tuesday, are Akosua Kyeremanten, Rachel Cochrane, Lillian Lanquaye-Tetteh, Pearl Farkye, Daniel Essel and Bright Korley Martey,
The rest are Christian Owusu, Rose Pomaney, Enoch Larbi, Nelson Narh, Bertha Bridget Kankam and Nyaneba Attuah.
Twenty contestants made it out of the over 700 who auditioned for the series and the number pruned to the final 12.
If their performances at the launch were anything to go by, then the judges face an uphill task because the contestants have real musical talents.
Although it was the first time many of the 12 contestants were performing live to a large audience, they managed to excite the audience with their joint performance.
The contestants were given pep-talks by some industry gurus such as Abraham Ohene Gyan, Amandzeba and Sammi Helwani on what to expect once they enter the competition and how to conduct themselves in order to survive in the music industry.
The next 13 weeks promise to be exciting in the search for the voice of a new generation, and to determine this the contestants will be put through different tests, with themes like Pop Night, Highlife Night, Gospel Night and Oldies Night. The number of contestants will be reduced till the final show which has been slated for August 22, 2009.
According to Ms Juno Turkson, the Public Relations Executive of Charterhouse, the National Theatre will be the home of the Stars of the Future as the weekly performances will be recorded to a live audience at 7 p.m. every Friday for the duration of the series.
She said the contestants would also be coached on stage performance, song writing, choreography and basic knowledge in copyright and artistes management.
The judges for this season are ace radio presenter, Doreen Andoh; producer extraordinaire, Zapp Mallet, and the CEO of EKB records, Kiki Banson.
The Music Director of the series is Mr Johny Fingers, while Master Mix Studios will provide sound, with music by the resident band, the Shabo Crew.
The series is currently airing on GTV, with the performance show airing at 3 p.m. every Sunday and the eviction show at 9.30 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Those who miss these shows can look forward to the Stars of the Future radio edition.
Stars of the Future series is a Charterhouse production, with sponsorship from MTN, Coca Cola, Castle Milk Stout and Somovision.
Fans of the various contestants are urged to vote for their favourites to stay in the competition by sending their names to MTN short code 1750. The public makes 70 per cent of the decision of who leaves the show and who stays on till the finals.
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