Ama is Ghana’s Most Beautiful 2010

 BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

Ama waving to the audience after being crowned

Arguably the most keenly contested edition since its inception three years ago, the curtain was finally lowered on the 2010 version (Season IV) of “Ghana’s Most Beautiful” (GMB) beauty pageant, with Ama, representing the Eastern Region going home with the coveted crown.

20-year-old Ama, whose full name is Nana Ama Agyeiwaa and hails from Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region, made no secret of her intention to go home with the ultimate, when Season IV of Ghana’s Most Beautiful beauty pageant took off in August this year.

It thus came as no surprise, when on Sunday at the National Theatre, she was able to surpass the other three grand finalists – Bambi from the Central Region, Asibi from the Upper East Region and Chaana from the Upper West Region with 30.34%, to win the crown, KIA Picanto and cheque for GH¢5,000 among others, which were at stake.

Ama from the onset of the pageant 13 weeks ago, gave it her all in educating Ghanaians on the country’s rich culture in general and particularly making known what pertains in the region she represented – the Eastern Region, as regards festivals, resources that can be found there, child naming among others.

Comments from the two regular judges, Playwright Efo Mawugbe and fashion designer/CEO of Cadling Fashions, Linda Yaa Ampah, which went in her favour, were therefore not surprising.

In fact she became the toast of many viewers and patrons of the pageant that she added to her following during every episode, which culminated in her being adjudged as Ghana’s Most Beautiful woman of the moment, largely through texts.

It was very visible that patrons who were at the grand finale held at Ghana’s only National Theatre in Accra were not disappointed when Ama emerged the winner. As a matter of fact, placards displaying her picture were constantly waved amidst shouts whenever Ama took her turn on stage, during the over four-hour long beauty pageant that ended in the wee hours of Monday morning, by Ama’s friends and family who turned up to push her to the top.

When she was finally announced as the ultimate winner by co-host Kweku Temeng, after the second and third runners-up had been announced, Ama, who had hitherto been holding hands with Bambi to brace themselves for the final announcement, could no longer hide her tears, which flowed freely down her cheeks as she waved to the packed audience at the National Theatre.

23-year-old Bambi Bamfo, a graduate nurse of the University of Ghana, Legon School of Nursing who hails from Akyemfo in the Central Region, also distinguished herself so well and was able to take the second spot as the first runner-up, having garnered a little over 26%. She had as her prize, a GH¢4,000 cheque among other prizes.

The third or second runner-up spot was taken by 24-year-old Asibi Awemih from Zebilla in the Upper East Region, who was viewed as the most energetic of the finalists. She took home as her prize, GH¢3,500, two pieces of cloth a month from Nu-Style for a year, a hamper from sponsors – Cowbell, cultural ambassador package etc.

Fourth-placed or third runner-up Chaana Abdul- Razak, 24 and Psychology student of the University of Ghana, Legon, who managed to pull through eviction on a number of occasions during the pageant, was awarded with GH¢2,500, a hamper and piece of cloth every month from Nu-Style for a year.

Before the four grand finalists slugged it out for the ultimate, 24-year-old student of the Central University College, Emefa Celestine Torwogbede from Vakpo in the Volta Region and 22-year-old Linda Naa Ashiedua Anum-Tettey from Otublohum in the Greater Accra Region got evicted, largely for not giving a good account of themselves during the interview section and highlighting of the potentials of the regions they represented to investors and for low number of texts from their fans.

On the whole, though, they, like the other four contestants, distinguished themselves well in the other compartments that made the night.

The pageant was also spiced with music performed by various artistes including Joe aka "Humble Lion" of  TV3 Mentor fame, Becca who did a song with the finalists, Slim Buster and his dancers.

Ghana’s Most Beautiful, which was initiated by TV3 in 2007, is a beauty pageant with a unique cultural attachment. It is an entertainment programme which is both informative and educative, which is why many Ghanaians devoted their Sunday nights to it while it lasted on television. The concept was derived in a bid to project the beauty of the Ghanaian woman and not to follow western beauty.

Within the pageant all the 10 regions of Ghana are represented and the selected 10 women are allowed to research on their regions to inform the general public weekly in a live presentation. Contestants with the fewest votes are voted out weekly.

The judges for the reality show comprised Efo Kojo Mawugbe, Linda Ampah and a guest judge who gave their comments on each performance, while Kweku Temeng and Naa Klordey emceed during the entire season.

Viewers were also required to vote their favourite contestants to MTN, Zain and Kasapa short code 1788 in order to keep them in the competition.

Efo Kojo Mawugbe has been a permanent judge since the inception of Ghana’s Most Beautiful reality show, the programme which has attracted a very large viewership in Ghana.

On the other hand, Linda Ampah’s contributions to Ghana’s Most Beautiful maiden edition brought lots of positive impact on the contestants. Due to her consistency, she was chosen again as a judge for Season IV of Ghana’s Most Beautiful 2010 pageant.

Her company, Cadling Fashions, aims for excellence in its field of work and she has lately added a children’s clothing line “Anjanique’s” and events planning to her schedule.

Joining in judging the contestants was Nana Abena Afriyie also known as Werempemhemaa of Bechem traditional area.

Bambi Bamfo was 2nd

Past winners of GMB are Ama from the Central Region in 2007, the Greater Accra Region representative, Adoley in 2008 and Nasara from the Northern Region in 2009.

Asibi Awemih took third place

Sponsors of the GMB included KIA Motors, Nu-Style and Cowbell Company.

Chaana Abdul- Razak came fourth

Promoting tourism in Ghana: Story of the Dodi Princess

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

The Cruise Boat - Dodi Princess

Ghana’s only cruise boat on the Volta Lake – the Dodi Princess, has since its conversion from a cargo vessel to a cruise boat in 1991, provided relaxation and fun for holiday makers, groups and individuals from all over the world.

Yes, from all over the world, because it always plays host to tourists and people from sister African countries such as Cameroon and Nigeria among many others, who have desired to cruise on the large Volta Lake.
According to one of the captains of the boat, Captain Edward Nyarko, the boat has since 1991 ferried a lot of people “over thousands of thousands” across the Volta Lake.

In an exclusive interview aboard the boat last month during a cruise, he intimated that the boat was converted into a tourist boat because it “was abandoned at the port doing nothing and when former President Jerry John Rawlings came here, when he saw the boat (he was moving with a man called Hans Heins and he asked him (Heins) if he could put the boat into good use and he said yes.”

Captain Nyarko continued that the boat was converted for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference and after that it was turned into a tourist boat. He disclosed that former Liberian President Charles Taylor, Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings and other Leaders attending the NAM conference used the boat as their meeting rendezvous.

For his part, the second captain on the cruise boat, Captain Garibah said that although the boat is a very fast one, the cruise speed that they use is 8.5 knots which is equivalent to 16km/hr for the 27km distance to the Dodi Island.

He disclosed that the boat had a six-member crew, made up of two captains, two navigation officers, an electrical engineer and a mechanical engineer for every trip or cruise.

The cruise boat was formerly a cargo vessel called Grains Maid, originally built at the Tema Shipyard in 1977 and was used mainly to carry dry cargo, especially fertiliser from Akosombo to Yeji and Buipe in the Northern part of Ghana and return with yam and grains down south.

As a cargo vessel, it enjoyed great patronage until the late 1980s when its operation was severely handicapped due to financial difficulties, which resulted in it being abandoned at the Akosombo port.

However, it was not until 1991, when a German engineer named Hans Heins was given approval by the then Head of State of the Republic of Ghana, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings to convert the hull of the vessel to a tour pleasure boat, which was done with the help of some staff of the Maritime Services Unit (MSU) of the Volta River Authority and commissioned in 1991 and renamed Dodi Princess, according to an official of the Volta Hotel, which now manages the boat.

The boat was formerly managed by the Marine Division of the Volta River Authority, which transferred the Dodi Princess to Akosombo Hotels Limited (Volta Hotel) in 2005, for the latter to own and manage as part of its assets, since tour business is one its core objects.

The hotel therefore took over management of the Dodi Princess, which made its maiden cruise to the Dodi Island on July 1, 2005.

According to the new managers of the boat, the maiden voyage of the Dodi Princess was arranged to coincide with the celebration of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) conference which was hosted in Ghana in 1991.

Up close with the Dodi Princess
The MV Dodi Princess has three decks – lower, middle and upper. The first deck (lower), is a fully air conditioned cocktail bar, which is a strictly non-smoking area reserved for guests/persons who want to stay away from the music and have time for some introspection whiles they enjoy their favourite beverages.

The other two decks are mainly airy areas full of activities, where guests are treated to live band music and other fun-filled activities to sustain their excitement as they cruise on the second largest man-made lake in the world.

The cruise boat, which has one propeller and two engines, also has a sick bay on the middle deck, as well as a large gridiron for grilling of any kind of meat or fish on the upper deck, with a staff on board who are very friendly and highly trained to provide for guests’ comfort and satisfaction.

Facilities on board the boat include four washrooms (two on lower deck and two on middle deck), a kitchen on the lower deck, the captain’s bunker on middle deck, captain’s bridge on the upper deck and a mini swimming pool for children on the lower deck.

Cruise on the Volta Lake
The pleasure boat cruises on the Volta Lake, which is not salty but fresh water, to the Dodi Island and undertakes a cruise distance of approximately 27 kilometres, which takes about two hours to the island.
Ghana’s huge Volta Lake is sandwiched between Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Greater Accra and the Eastern and Volta regions and covers an area of 8502 km2 and has a capacity of over 400*1012 litres which stretches over 400km in length.

It extends from the Akosombo Dam in south eastern Ghana to the town of Yapei, 520 kilometres (325miles) to the North. The lake generates electricity, provides inland transportation and is a valuable resource for irrigation and inland fisheries.

About nine (9) rivers join the lake before it enters the sea at Ada, as it trickles down south. These are the White Volta, the Black Volta, River Afram, River Sene, River Dayi, River Dwiia, River Pru, River Oti and River Obosom.

Security and safety on board
The carrying capacity of MV Dodi Princess which is insured with the State Insurance Company, is 350 and it has enough life rafts, lifebuoys and life guards on board to ensure that its cruises are safe and secured.
What’s more, navigation services, technical and maintenance services on board are handled by competent and certified personnel from the Marine Division of the Volta River Authority who are all products from the Regional Maritime University.

Sales and marketing
Tickets for boat cruises can be purchased from the Volta Hotel’s Accra Sales offices and at the Akosombo port or reservations made on line.

According to the hotel’s management, the boat which cruises on weekends and public holidays is also available for hiring on days other than weekends at GH¢1,000 per hour for churches and schools, GH¢1,100 per hour for Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and GH¢1,200 per hour for corporate organisations.

Side View of the Dodi Princess

The Dodi Princess I saw – A personal experience

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

The Dodi Princess

It was a fine Tuesday but an unlikely day to observe as a holiday.
But it was – a day designated as a holiday by the sitting President of Sikaman, Agya Atta, to mark the birthday of Sikaman’s foremost President and proud son of the Black Race – Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

And come to think of it – maybe the day was not a strange one after all, for Nkrumah during his time, was one of a kind – forget about the politricks that some politricians are already playing with the day set aside to celebrate a great son of the soil (Some are asking for a Founders’ Day Holiday and not Nkrumah’s Birthday Holiday).

Although nobody is disputing the fact that Kwame Nkrumah could not have done it alone, it goes without gainsaying that he showed such exemplary leadership during his time that Ghana has since his time been hailed as the Star of Africa and a worthy leader of and on the continent of Africa, such that many African states still take inspiration from Sikaman in all sorts of endeavours or fields.

So why shouldn’t we celebrate Osagyefo? We must learn how to celebrate our own. To me that is long overdue. Nkrumah is long gone but no single leader – President, Prime Minister or Head of State has even left half of the legacy that Sikaman’s foremost President left behind. Do I have to go into that? As a matter of fact, most of Sikaman’s leaders after him have rather undone what Nkrumah did during his tenure.

Anyway, enough of the Osagyefo stuff. Though a strange holiday since it was the first time that it was being observed in Sikaman, the entire family, a very close family and few friends looked forward to taking advantage of it to see the famed Princess Dodi on the second largest man-made lake in the world, which was personally supervised by the Osagyefo (sorry I couldn’t help bringing this name up again) – the Volta Lake.

The largest man-made lake in the world is the Mekong River, which can be found in China.
So on that fateful morning – September 21, 2010, everyone woke up very early for the long drive to Sikaman’s power town – Akosombo so we did not miss the Princess (we were told the cruise would begin at 10:30am.)

Having set off in a two-car convoy at 7am, we reached our destination (the Akosombo port) safely just after 9am without any hustle and proceeded to the pier.

And there she was! The Princess Dodi or is it Dodi Princess? Whatever!
Did I hear someone ask – where is the Dodi Princess? Well it was right in front of us and it was the inscription on it that gave it away.

From a distance, it looked like a house and indeed even at close range it did not look like a structure that could move, let alone cruise on water.

Nonetheless, we got on board and soon a loud and long horn was sounded, which I later understood was the signal that the cruise was about to begin – we were then seated on the middle deck. Our decision to stay there was actually informed by the musical equipment we found mounted there. Hmm hmm we could not wait to see and hear the band come alive.

And we got what we bargained for.  After the bandsmen had tuned up their instruments the band struck some tunes just as the Princess finally left the pier at Akosombo.

The feeling was ecstatic and we looked forward to a fun-filled rollicking cruise. I learnt many years ago that “ecstasy is a feeling you feel, when you feel you are going to feel a feeling you have never felt before.” And that captured the mood at that moment – perfect description.

The Kings Anchor Band
The resident band – the Kings Anchor Band from New Akrade in the Eastern Region, led by J. K. Asamoah, played different genres of music, to which many passengers in that mid section of the boat danced enthusiastically, during the two-hour cruise to the famed Dodi Island and only stopped when the boat docked at the Dodi pier.

There was also enough to drink, chew and eat on board, courtesy the Volta Hotel (boat managers) catering staff.

It was the same story, when the cruise boat set off again on a two-hour return journey to the Akosombo port, after about an hour on the island.

The Dodi Island
The Dodi Island became one of the displaced settlements when the Akosombo Dam was constructed in the late 1960s and covers approximately 55 acres of space.

I had already heard that the trip to the island was like an anti-climax of the cruise, because the island had no attractions and was more or less, bare – so I was already psyched up. In fact, after being on water for two hours, we were all itching to get back on land.

But the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Volta Hotel say they have plans of developing the Dodi Island into a world class tour site, which plans are receiving serious attention and will be rolled out in the next few years.

What we met on arrival, somewhat livened us up, though it could have been better. There were people on the island to welcome us with a traditional cultural dance, agbadza from the Volta Region, whom we later learnt were from a village close by, because they knew we would be coming.

Whereas some productive women were there to sell some smoked fish and some youth decided to beg for alms, the main attraction upon arrival, was an array of music talents who had lined up a walkway to the other side of the vast island.

We first encountered a mix of singing women and men playing drums and some percussion instruments – maracas, and it felt good to be welcomed with such music, although most of us did not understand the words of the music – they sang in Ewe, the local dialect of the people.

Moving further, we also encountered some girls singing with just the maracas. There was also the bamboo musicians – three little boys making music with just some bamboo stumps – and that was intriguing.

We could count as many as six music groups along the concrete slab walkway and mind you, you could not enjoy their music without dropping in some coins. Many of us though, were not ready for that and so could not meet such expectation.

Our stay on the island was not so eventful, aside the fact that some of the cruisers undertook a canoe ride at the other side of the island for a few bucks, though that was not part of the cruise programme and the boat officials had to stop it before any calamity struck.

Hey, man must live and some ingenious locals had come up with a fast way to make a few Ghana cedis from the visitors by offering them a ride on their canoes and letting them have a feel of paddling.

I must not forget to mention too, that a family on the cruise brought along some used clothing and other items for the indigenes whose major occupations are farming and fishing. Specifically, the items were presented by two children, Enyonam and Kwame.

The items were presented to one of the community leaders – Samson Akorsu, who welcomed us to the island the moment we arrived – you may consider that anytime you decide to go on a cruise on the Volta Lake – take along some clothes for the indigenes.

In a short interview, Akorsu divulged that the indigenous farmers mainly cultivate cassava and maize, saying that the indigenes number over 350.

Stating that their ancestors settled on that island long before the Akosombo Dam was built, Akorsu disclosed that the indigenes drink directly from the lake water because they do not have any boreholes or any other potable water, but insisted that they do not fall sick from drinking the Volta Lake water.

Soon it was time to return to the boat when the loud horn was sounded once again by the captain.
The return journey was not so different from the first lap, save for some interesting sites along the lake that were pointed out to the passengers as we cruised on the very serene lake.

Some of the spots pointed out to the cruisers were a tilapia farm, a smaller island – the Dwarfs Island, the community where our welcome party on the island came from, Gyameni, a big market town, Dodi Asantekrom, where the children on the Dodi Island attend school and adults go to vote during elections using canoes.

Others were the Anum Secondary School, snippets of the Kwahu mountains, the Akosombo Dam, Presidential chalet where Dr. Kwame Nkrumah stayed whenever he was at Akosombo to personally check on progress being made during construction of the Akosombo Dam and the Akosombo port.

We finally docked at the Akosombo port around 15:00hrs GMT, almost at 4pm and disembarked onto the pier and then into our vehicles for the return trip to Accra.

50% of Kissing in Movies is Real – Yvonne Nelson

EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

One of Ghana’s finest and budding actresses, Yvonne Nelson, has stated that 50% of the kissing that is seen in Ghanaian movies is actually real, contrary to hitherto espoused views that it is all make believe.

Responding to the question of kissing in an exclusive interview granted this reporter earlier this year at her home in Accra, Yvonne, who is fast becoming a household name, not only in Ghana but Nigeria and the rest of Africa, affirmed thus: “Yes, the kissing, 50% is real. The rest we might just fake that we are kissing but I think, yes it is as real as you see it.”

Yvonne explained that there are scenes that require intensive kissing as the director instructs, whereas with others it is just a normal kiss, adding “but sometimes I think it all has to do with the chemistry you have with whoever you are acting with.”

She stated further that if one is acting with someone he or she doesn’t really get along with, there is a holding back a little bit, while it is the opposite if the two parties are at home with each other.

Touching on the thorny issue of nudity and sex scenes in some Ghanaian movies, the 6ft tall pretty actress lamented that some producers are exploiting new entrants into the movie industry and using it as a marketing strategy to meet their own selfish ends.

 “An actor, an actress, all we do is do our job, but now it looks like Ghanaians or producers are using that as a marketing strategy to sell their movies because they know (they are always using new girls to do that) that if you see some naked girl, I mean everybody will rush to go and see what it is like in the movie,” Yvonne charged.

“I think they are just over doing it, over using it, because you watch a movie and then you see all those sex scenes and then you find out that they don’t add anything to the story,” she continued.

While accepting that she has ever played such role in a Ghanaian movie, Yvonne said there was justification for that part she played in the movie, since it formed an integral part of the story line.

“I believe that I did something similar but it had like, I mean it played a major part in the story so if you watch ‘The Heart of Men’ you will know what I am talking about,” she confirmed.

According to the talented actress, it was right after “The Heart of Men” that most of the producers started abusing sex in movies, maintaining however that it is not out of place if such scenes have some relevance to the story line.

Yvonne however cautioned; “we shouldn’t really overdo it and show too much because I don’t think it is helping the kids.”

Intimating that most of her fans are children, the actress, who hails from the Western Region of Ghana, said, “It’s like they are always coming here knocking on my gate so if they watch these movies then...I don’t know. If my parents see me as in a 10-year-old looking at that it is very bad so they should try and settle it up. I think right now they are overdoing it, yeah they are just abusing the sex scenes and all the romance and kissing in movies.”

The actress also graciously opened a window of her private life and divulged that she has a man in her life. She however declined to name the lucky man because she does not want to entangle him in her public life.

Yvonne, who is the last born of her parent’s three children, expressed her angst at various gossips and publications that have sought to pair her up with some male colleagues in the movie business, saying her man is a private person.

“I am sick and tired of all the rumours; people keep writing stuff about me. They see you with somebody and they think ah that’s the end. I have always been in a relationship. For like two years now I have been in a relationship. The person is very private and very reserved and stuff so I don’t really disclose who he is anywhere.

“But I have been linked with so many people; with Majid, John (referring to Dumelo), you know, so many other people and recently I heard it was Jim Iyke. So...I don’t know, what can you do about it? I mean, I can’t come out and say ok this is the man I am dating, but am in a relationship,” she stressed.

Yvonne Nelson maintains though that she does not hope to tie the knot anytime soon. “I am still a little girl you know. It can happen but I am not planning anything now,” she said.

Terms of Divorce – A must watch for the married

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

Ever thought of divorcing your spouse because she or he is not what you expected him or her to be – a lifetime partner?

Then you must watch the play “Terms of Divorce” written by one of Ghana’s prolific playwrights of all time, James Ebo Whyte, fondly called Uncle Ebo before taking that final decision.

There is a second opportunity for those who could not watch the thrilling play first staged at the National Theatre, Accra from September 3 to September 5, 2010 for packed audiences.

The epic, which runs twice on the day is staged; 6pm and 8pm, can again be viewed by patrons this weekend from September 10 to September 12, 2010 at the same venue.

The hilarious, yet life transforming play with a main cast of seven brilliant actors and actresses, is about a bitter and unhappy woman, Ethel, who wants divorce from her husband of twenty years, Ralph Arthur.

Mrs. Ethel Arthur is played with dexterity by Ethel Mercy Muale and Shirley Okyere-Darko, while Ralph Arthur is played by Nii Akrofi Smart Abbey and Bellah Djibrilla.

The others are Andrew Adote and Belinda Bediako Asiedu who play counsellor and wife. The role of the two lawyers is played by Roland Adom and Egya Agyekum Onwona-Sarfo as Lawyer Michael Ababio, while Elsie Attieku-Nuku and Lauretta Hammond play Lawyer Baaba Essama Ababio.

Prosper, a worker who assists Ralph to park his belongings from the house is played by Moses Okine.

Ethel and Ralph go for lawyers who ironically have ever been married and are divorced and it is no wonder that both seek to advance arguments to help their clients to do the same.

This desire of the once married lawyers however encounters a severe jolt, when the yet to divorce couple are ordered by the court to see a marriage counsellor first, which sends the process into an unforgettable twist of events.

The turn of events at the counsellor’s house, which would be better watched than told, inevitably reverses the divorce process to the chagrin of the two lawyers, who themselves later through an intriguing drama come together once again.

One lesson learnt from the play is that there is no problem that is insurmountable in a marriage and partners in that life-long commitment owe it to themselves to make it work, once they have tied the knot.

For anyone with a soft heart who is ready to watch the masterpiece of a play, a handkerchief will by all means come in handy, especially as events unfold at the counsellor’s house.

Kudos to Roverman Productions and all sponsors of the play – MTN, Stanbic Bank Ltd, GTP, KPOGAS Furniture Company, Joy FM and others. Such immensely rewarding and educative plays are what are needed in a world where the divorce rate is soaring ever so often that marriage has lost its essence.

Available statistics provided by Americans for Divorce Reform, indicate that Sweden tops the world’s divorce rate with 54.9% of marriages ending in divorce as at 2002, closely followed by the USA which has 54.8% of marriages falling on the rocks, while India is bottom of the ladder, with 1.1% of marriages ending in divorce.

Unfortunately, there are no figures for Ghana on the world chart, although it is generally known that divorce cases have become rampant in the country.

However, data available at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly on customary marriage indicates that a total of 618 marriages were dissolved in 2007 out of 1,511 marriages registered.

In January 2007, 46 out of the 136 registered marriages were dissolved and the month of February saw 49 dissolutions out of 122 registered.