Twenty-two year old Ms Mawuse Appea, a student of the University of Ghana, Legon emerged winner for this year’s Miss Ghana competition which was held on Friday at the National Theatre in Accra.

Competing alongside 21 other contestants, the Bachelor of Arts students justified winning the title with her elegance and poise to leave Ms Huberta Naa Quartey and Shirley Nwangere in the second and third positions respectively.

For her prize, Ms Appea took home a brand new Hyundai Accent saloon car worth $17,000 which was donated by Sparrow Productions Limited, organisers of the event, home appliances from Somovision, cash prize of GH¢2,500, wardrobe from Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL), a one-year free make-up and skin therapy from FC Skin and Beauty Klinik and an opportunity to participate in the Miss World 2009 Pageant.

In a statement, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, said the pageant which “began many decades ago has helped to shape the future of many young ladies who have contested in the pageant from the regional level to the national level and to the world stage.”

He said the high patronage of the beauty pageant, especially at the world stage, was an opportunity to promote Ghana in the world through the participation of Miss Ghana.

According to the Minister, participating in the Miss World would throw the searchlight on Ghana and as a result, people would be curious to visit the country in order to sample our culture and hospitality.

“It is therefore, gratifying to note that for two successive years, Ghana has made it to the top five in the Miss World Pageant. They were Ms Lamisi Mbillah, 2005 and Ms Irene Dwomoh, 2006,” he said.

Mr Osei-Ameyaw indicated that the trend was significant and pointed to the fact that if the appropriate steps were taken in the search for a Miss Ghana, the country could one day win the Miss World crown.
 
Ms Shirely Frimpong Manso, Managing Director of Sparrow Productions, organisers of the event, said the aim of the event was to give all young women in Ghana, the opportunity to harness their potential and open doors for them.

The event was sponsored by Airport West Hotel, Somovision, Simbins Furniture and others.