The new face of Miss Ghana -- Inna Mariam Patty

The new face of Miss Ghana - Inna Mariam Patty

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

She is result-oriented, focus-driven, go-getting; a winner, multi-purpose and above all sexy. These are just a few words that can be used to describe this incredible woman.

These words could be referring to no other person but the winner of Miss Ghana 2004, Inna Mariam Patty.

She is back in town with the Miss Ghana pageantry -- but not as a contestant; this time she is an organiser with her company, Exclusive Events Ghana.

She has won the exclusive right to organise the event, and in her own words “Under Exclusive Events Ghana, the Miss Ghana brand will be every young Ghanaian lady’s dream.

“Miss Ghana 2012 and beyond aims to be an exciting experience in the entertainment calendar of Ghana. Fresh and new additions are certainly going to help make it worth every work we will put in. It is going to be a whole new experience, not only for us as a company, but also for all the contestants.”

These thoughts were also echoed by the former organisers of the pageant, Media Whizz Kids’ CEO, Reginald “Geddy” Laryea when he expressed complete confidence and optimism in the capabilities of Exclusive Events Ghana and its chief executive.

“The good thing about handing the rights of this pageant to Inna is that she brings a good amount of judgement, experience and precision to the event.”

Inna, he said, brings on board a wealth of experience and passion for the organisation of the pageant.

“This is not an event for the faint-hearted, and we believe she more than has that tough spirit needed to take the event to the next level,” Mr. Laryea said.

It is going to be national in nature, meaning regional finals will be held in all ten regions before the grand final in Accra.

The 2012 edition will be launched this month and the winner will represent Ghana at this year's Miss World. Stephanie Karikari, Miss Ghana 2010 and winner of the 2011 Miss World Beauty with a Purpose award, will crown the winner.

This is not the first time Inna is going to organise a pageant event. She has loads of experience as she has been involved in the organisation of Miss Togo for several years, and has also worked with the Miss South Africa team for quite some time.

These experiences gathered are enough to show that she is more than capable of pulling it off without many problems.

Inna was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and grew up in Ghana with its tropical weather, a rich heritage and an interesting kaleidoscope of cultural attractions.

She schooled at Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast and went to the University of Ghana. She is also an alumnus of the London School of Economics and worked as a head-hunter at the London Stock Exchange.

She is currently studying for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration, after which she will take a year off to honour an invitation to do an attachment in a law firm in Ghana, and then enrol in Law School as it is her ambition to be a corporate lawyer.

As ‘Tourism Ambassador’, she championed the introduction of paragliding and hang-gliding in Ghana and Africa at large, which has come to stay -- especially when it is time for Easter festivities at Kwahu in the Eastern Region.

Other interests include: listening to R&B and Soul, Orating, and looking after her pet dog called Snoopy and her adopted crocodile, Frank. Her motto is “Whoever much is given, from him much will be expected”.

Inna is just twenty-nine years and single.

She started Exclusive Events Ghana about six years ago, but has run it full-timefor the past two years. The company specialises in corporate, charity, special/themed and social events with a large clientele base in Ghana and beyond.

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Airtel friendzy draws held

Airtel friendzy draws held

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

Airtel has held the seventh and eighth draws of its Airtel freindzy promotion at the Pentagon Hostel in Legon, Accra

The promotion, according to the operator, is aimed at giving back to customers by rewarding them for their recharges and usage on the network.

Group Budujay1, winners of the eighth draw, had the highest points accrued since the promotion started in December. The group was presented with a GH¢10,000 cash prize for the combined effort. Group HOCK90 also won GH¢10,000 as the seventh draw winner.

Head of Corporate Communications at Airtel, Donald Gwira, said the promotion was achieving its aim of building friendships and rewarding customers for their loyalty.

‘This is also the opportunity to celebrate great times with friends and win great prizes on the network that cares,” he said.

He encouraged those who were yet to join to do so, and for those already playing to keep their eyes on the ultimate prize of GH¢50,000 cash, which will be given out to the group with the highest number of points at the end of the promotion in March.

More than 80 groups have won a total of GH¢260,000 in cash since the promotion began. Individual players have also won brand new Samsung tablets, Galaxy Smartphones and lots of Airtel airtime over the period.

NDK helps out two basics schools in Osu

NDK helps out two basic schools in Osu

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

NDK Financial Services has donated computers and accessories including printers to two basic schools in Osu, Accra, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

The beneficiary schools include Osu Presby Primary and JHS and St. Barnabas Anglican School.

Head of Marketing, NDK, Anthony Quaye, explained why they decided to undertake this initiative and the reason behind the choice of these institutions.

“We feel that we need to make an impact in our immediate environment, and since these schools are very close to us we decided to help this schools improve upon their Information Technology (IT) level this year.”

He also added that due to the successful counselling programme they organised for the final year students of various schools in Osu last year, they decided to follow up with these presentations.

“Last year we organised a very successful counselling programme for final year students to encourage them to study hard, put up the best behaviour and also eschew examination malpractices during their final exams.

“Due to the huge success of the programme, which reflected in improved results of the students, we decided to donate these computers to help perk-up on their IT level,” he said.

Headmistress of Osu Presby Primary and JHS, Theresa Okantey, said the computers came at the right time to supplement the ones they already have, because some of the old ones are getting outmoded.

“We are happy for these computers because since they are gadgets and prone to damage, we need them replaced constantly; so these computers have come at the right time to add to the ones we already have.”

She seized the opportunity to complement corporate bodies that engage in CSRs which are beneficial to the communities, and asked more institutions to follow suit “because we cannot expect the government to provide us with everything.”

Christina Apafo, Headmistress, St. Barnabas Anglican School, was full of praise for NDK for the donations and promised that the staff of the school will make the most of the computers and also keep them in the best of shape.

Medical Imaging opens new lab

Medical Imaging opens new lab

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

Medical Imaging, a subsidiary of Medlab Ghana Limited, which conducts X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound scans, mammography and blood tests, has opened another ultra-modern laboratory at Korle-Gonno, Accra.

The new office, located opposite the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), has state-of-the-art scanning equipment valued at about $3million and is intended to boost healthcare in the country.

Managing Director of Medical Imaging, Dr. Rosemary Keatley, said the opening of a new laboratory at the location was necessitated by the ever-increasing number of cases referred to them by doctors and physicians from the KBTH.

“We realised that a lot of referrals were coming from Korle-Bu. And to prevent people hustling to get to Roman Ridge --where the main laboratory is located -- we decided to open this branch near Korle-Bu to relieve the patients of the trouble of travelling to Roman Ridge.

“We also realised that if we get closer to the doctors at Korle-Bu, we will be able to interact with them faster and easier than we used to do.

“There will be more dialogue between the physicians of Korle-Bu and Medlab. This will go a long way to help boost healthcare of patients that benefit from services of both institutions,” she said.

Dr. Keatley encouraged women over the age of 40 to come for frequent mammogram tests to know their breast-cancer status, so that they would not spend so much money trying to cure a sickness which could have been prevented through a simple routine check-up.

“We have taken it upon ourselves to discount the cost of a mammogram test in the months of October, November and December every year in order to encourage more women to take the test for their own safety.”

Medical Imaging is the third institution in Ghana after the KBTH and SSNIT Hospital to have the equipment to conduct mammogram tests.

Medlab Ghana Limited has been operating in Ghana for 10 years and has its main laboratory at Roman Ridge, Accra, with other laboratories in Tema, Takoradi and Kumasi.

Vodafone helps insolvent hospital patients

Vodafone helps insolvent hospital patients

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

Vodafone has paid an undisclosed amount in medical bills of about 230 insolvent patients in hospitals around the country, allowing the hospitals to release them to spend Valentine’s Day with their loved ones.

The patients were given mobile phones, Vodafone-branded mugs, T-shirts and some money for transport back home. Vodafone also registered 100HIV-positive patients for the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Speaking at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra where 29 patients were beneficiaries, Head of Corporate Communications, Vodafone, Carmen Bruce-Annan, explained why the telecommunications giant decided to repeat the initiative they started last year.

“The impact of what we did last year on the patients and the hospitals cannot be overestimated. Being admitted to hospital is tough enough; some of these patients have undergone traumatic surgery, but they also have to worry about where to find the money to pay the bills for their treatment.

“The hospital administration does a great job in trying to accommodate individuals in this situation, but they also need the bills paid in order to treat the next patient. It feels good that Vodafone can step in again and offer relief to both patients and the hospital,” she said.

Overall, 100 Vodafone employees visited Tamale West Hospital and Walewale Hospital in the Northern Region; Atonsu Agogo Hospital and KNUST Hospital in the Ashanti Region; Takoradi Hospital in the Western Region; and Ridge, Tema General, Lekma General and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals in the Greater Accra Region.

Victoria Aku Quaye, Director of Nursing Services, KBTH, expressed her appreciation to Vodafone for their love and support to the patients and the hospital.

“Certainly, you are going to put smiles on the faces of these patients and their families. This is going to be a great relief to these patients who have been kept here, some for as long as eight weeks.

“We are very happy that Vodafone has shown care and love to these patients, especially on Valentine’s Day,” she added.

Some of the patients who spoke to B&FT expressed their joy at the fact that finally they are able to go home and see their families. They also conveyed their love and appreciation to Vodafone for coming to their aid when all hope seemed lost.

Vodafone launches WI-Fi zone in UG

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

Vodafone has launched a Wi-Fi zone at the Ghana Hostels (Pentagon) on the University of Ghana, Legon campus.

This is the largest internet access point in the country with the capacity to serve over 5000 students at any given time.

Students on campus can now connect and access the internet speed through their laptops, tabs, smartphones and other WI-FI enabled devices at any given time, giving them unlimited access to information and educational material online.

According to Carmen Bruce- Annan, Head of Corporate Communications at Vodafone Ghana, “Making the internet accessible is something we are committed to. It is important that in today’s world, people can use the internet and benefit from having knowledge at their fingertips.

“Our students are, the new generation who will lead the internet revolution, if they aren’t already. We value the contribution we can make to ensure that our country continues to produce a technologically proficient generation.

“The Wi-Fi Zone reaffirms Vodafone’s commitment to enhancing internet relevance in the country’s development,” she said.

The campus WI-FI zone is the second major data initiative undertaken by Vodafone, in addition to the largest internet café at the KNUST campus for both students and visitors. It is also the latest addition to Vodafone’s list of WI-FI zones which are present at convenient locations including Villaggio apartments, Labadi Beach Hotel, Alisa Hotel, Best Western Hotel and at the Kotoka International Airport.

Vodafone also announced the launch with a promotional offer of 100 browsing hours a month for only GHC 30. Accessing the service requires the use of a voucher which is available at any AfriqXpress Pay point on campus and at the Ghana Hostels.

Vodafone Ghana has scheduled similar projects which encourage internet access and usage throughout the year.

Australia opens visa application centre

Australia opens visa application centre

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

Australia has opened a visa application centre in Accra, providing Ghanaian applicants a convenient, fast and accessible way to apply for Australian visas.

The centre, located in Lenshie Crescent in Labone Estates, allows Ghanaian clients to lodge visa applications in person. Previously, Ghanaian visa applicants were required to send their applications directly to the Australian High Commission in Kenya.

The Australia High Commissioner to Ghana, William Billy Williams, opening the centre, said, “I am delighted that an accessible visa service is now available for Ghanaians travelling to Australia.”

“This centre is a response to the increasing visa-service demands as increasing numbers of Ghanaians travel to Australia for work (particularly in the mining sector), study, to visit family and for pleasure.

“Australia and Ghana have many shared interests, founded on strong people-to-people links. The already strong relationship between our two countries will be further strengthened as a result of the establishment of an in-country visa service,” he said.

Under the new visa-application arrangements, clients submit their applications in person at the centre, where they will also provide a fingerprint and facial scan.

Biometric data are an important tool in identity management globally, helping countries facilitate the arrival of travellers and to combat fraud.

Many countries are already using biometrics to improve visa and border-checking processes, including Ghana which has implemented the system at Kotoka International Airport.

Australia now uses biometric data collection in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Blue Skies unveils new labels

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

Blue Skies Limited has outdoored new labels for its freshly-squeezed juice products at Medie near Nsawam in the Eastern Region.

The new labels have been introduced to enable Blue Skies distinguish itself as a superior product to the numerous imported juice and soft-drink brands that have flooded the Ghanaian market.

Sales and Marketing Manger, Blue Skies, Juliana Agyemang, explained the reason behind the choice of the new labels: “The labels are designed to illustrate in a fun and vibrant way how the juice comes fresh from the field and is simply crushed and squeezed into a bottle, with no added sugar or preservatives.

“The labels also reflect how the company aims to support the community and look after the environment, and to convey the message of how its products are proud to be made in Ghana.”

She added: “We believe our new brand design now gives us a world-class label which a world-class product like Blue Skies juice deserves; and it conveys the message that a young Ghanaian company like Blue Skies can take on the big imported brands and win.”

Alongside the new labels was the slogan, “Revitalising the Ghanaian in you,” which she said reflects their mission to empower Ghanaians to fulfil their true potential by consuming a product which can give their spirits a lift.

“We want to bring out everything that is good about being Ghanaian and to inspire national pride for a world-class product made in Ghana.”

In 2011, the new design won an award for brand identity from the International Food and Beverage Award (FAB) in London.

The company is introducing new flavours of mango, orange and banana in addition to the old flavours of pineapple, pineapple and ginger and tropical.

The company was started in 1998 with thirty-five employees but now has over 1500 people. It sources fruits from over 150 farms across the country.

First round of MTN golf tournament held

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

The first round of the MTN “Spoons” Match Play golf tournament has been held at the Celebrity Golf Club in Sakumono, Tema.

Sixty-four golfers participated in the first round, out of which thirty-two emerged champions and have thus qualified for the next round which will be held between the 5^th to 14^th February.

Speaking after the event, MTN Chief Executive Officer, Micheal Ikpoki, who also partook in the games, said golf is a special game and stressed that MTN will maintain the partnership between them and Celebrity Golf Club (CGC) to continue promoting golf in the country.

“I love and play golf, so I am really happy to be among other professional players. MTN will continue to support the growth of the sport in Ghana,” he said.

He added that with this partnership, 2012 will be a more exciting and interesting year in the golf calendar.

Mr. Ikpoki also used the occasion to talk about some of their new products for their customers. MTN Business which seeks to promote the ICT level of SMEs and also MTN’s new Blackberry services – Blackberry Social, Complete and Absolute Plan.

Vice Captain of the CGC, Akwesi Opoku, expressed his appreciation to the high turnout of the golfers for the tournament.

“Thank you very much for coming out in your numbers, we appreciate your presence. This goes along way to show how golf is increasingly catching up on us,” he said.

He added that it will be just a matter of time for a Ghanaian to be competing on the international stage alongside celebrated golfers like Tiger Woods.

Mr. Opoku added that the Celebrity Golf Club will be hosting the flagship tournament in the country-Ghana Open- later this year.

The Celebrity Golf Club is an eighteen hole golf course that has been in existence for over thirty years and have hosted several invitational tournaments like the Cocacola monthly tournament.

Fifth edition of Spelling Bee grand finale held

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

The grand finale of the fifth edition of the Spelling Bee competition has been held over the weekend in Accra.

After over eight hours and fifteen rounds of intense competition among the 89 finalists, eleven year old Phelimon Awan of the Holy Spirit Catholic Preparatory School, Ho in the Volta Region came out tops after spelling the word –mariculture—correctly.

He went home with a gold medal, GHC 1500 Ecobank Junior Saver Account, a certificate of participation from the GES, a plane ticket from Delta Airlines to Washington D.C, and will be representing Ghana at the 85^th Scribb Spelling Bee in the United States of America with $500 spending money from Indomie instant noodles and products from other sponsors.

The Country Director of the Spelling Bee, Eugenia Tachie-Menson, said the programme has impacted positively on pupils and students nationwide.

“The benefits of the Spelling Bee are immeasurable; students learn how to manage their time and prioritise, they gain self confidence by the unique method of questioning that the Spelling Bee encourages, and a host of other important life skills which prepares them to become responsible, well-balanced adults,” she said.

In an interview with the B&FT, Phelimon Awan said he was very happy to be crowned the overall best speller in 2012 and also very excited that he is going to the USA to represent Ghana.

“I feel very happy that I have won this competition and I am going to represent Ghana in the USA. I know it is not going to be easy over there but I will do everything in my power to make Ghana proud.

“From the beginning I was scared because I lost last year at the regional finals and felt that I was not going to make it again but with so much encouragement from my parents, teachers and coaches I was able to gather enough courage and improved on my confidence level,” he said.

Mother of the winner, Rosemond Akyena Awan expressed her appreciation to all persons who have contributed in diverse ways to his success.

“I am so happy that my son has won this competition and I will like to say thanks to his teachers, coaches and friends who encouraged him to go further in this competition. I will also like to add a big thank you to the organizers of such an educative programme. It is so educative and informative to the extent that I personally have learnt a lot of new words and to pronounce words properly,” she said.

She appealed to corporate Ghana and the government to invest in these educative programmes to safeguard the future of the children and the nation as a whole.

The first and second runners-up – Adwoa Onomoah and Christine Afonu – each went home with GHC 1200 and GHC 1000 Ecobank Junior Saver Accounts, certificates of participation, silver and bronze medals and products from other sponsors.