GRAPHIC SHOWBIZ, SPREAD, September 30 - October 7, 2010. Malaika Girls Step out - with 70 Cedis

MALAIKA GIRLS STEP OUT...WITH 70 CEDIS

By: Mary A. Ankrah

It was a double offer: two nights of exclusive fashion and hair show last weekend from Miss Malaika delegates to guests at the Richester Hotel in Accra. Two nights of creativity and panache.

Those were the nights that the remaining 11 Malaika delegates gracefully and flamboyantly exhibited their talents and skills by taking to the catwalk in clothes they had  designed or shopped for themselves.

Their task was clear. They were each given an amount of GH¢70 to shop for casual wear of their choice.

Again, they were to design their own beach and evening wear from ABC fabrics to be put together by professional couturiers Ophelia Crossland, NIPO, Pistis, K’NAF, Original and Afri-Ken Novelty.

What the evening turned out to be was a huge success of a fashion show as the beauties flaunted their bodies in clothes that they had practically made.

Then there was the hair show the day after and on this occasion too they modelled three different creative hair looks - Funky, Elegant and Avant Garde  by First Choice Hair and Beauty Salon and UB hair relaxer.

Prior to that, the ladies were run through a step by step hair fixing procedure with basic tips in hair care.
 On stage, the ladies showcased personal style and attitude in every round and at the end of the day, the astute judges pronounced Berla as Miss Catwalk and Belinda as winner for best design and creativity.

 This prepares them for a final eviction episode where one of them would leave behind all the luxury and fringe benefits that come along with the pageant as the sixth evictee.

The remaining lucky 10 ladies would go on an international tourism trip to Cairo, Egypt, which promises to be exciting and educative.

 The grand final of Miss Malaika Ghana 2010 comes off at the National Theatre on October 16  and one of the ladies will be crowned as winner.

The show is sponsored by Rana Motors (KIA), Egypt Air, MTN, First Choice, UB Hair Relaxer and Sultana Tomato Paste.

GRAPHIC SHOWBIZ: September 23 - September 30, 2010

AN EVDNING OF STYLE AND COLOUR

By Mary A. Ankrah

Last Sunday’s edition of TV3 Ghana's Most Beautiful pageant did not end on a choice of a winner but if it had, the obvious choice would have been GTP which provided outstanding fabric to dazzle both studio and home audiences. 
 Various GTP fashionable designs made into clothes and flaunted by the 10 contestants were as interesting as they were unique. The collections from a select group of fashion designers comprising Milli, Naama, Rowena, Lyran, Mislyn, Abbi Creation, B Pure, La Margue, Impressive and Wafad were simply stylish and colourful.   
 According to in-house footage that was shown to studio guests prior to the show, the beautiful ladies confessed that it had not been easy rehearsing how to “cat walk” for the fashion event.
 If they had any fears  before the show, the ladies did quite well to burn those fears with help from the judges whose criticisms spurred them to improve on their performance.
 Besides fashion, the night was exciting and the audience was thrilled to music and dance performances by Kal Deluna and Screwface.
 For the next nine weeks, the ladies will be expected to portray the rich cultures of their various regions. Each Sunday, two delegates with the least number of public votes will be up for eviction until the final four would vie against each other for the ultimate prize at a grand final on November 14 at the National Theatre.
 The TV3 Ghana's Most Beautiful is under the theme, “Redefining Beauty to Promote National Unity”.

GRAPHIC SHOWBIZ: September 16 - Spetember 23, 2010. Legon Shows Her Face

LEGON SHOWS HER FACE

By: Mary A. Ankrah

THIS year’s Face of Legon, the annual beauty pageant hosted by  Akuafo Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon, was launched last Friday. Annually the pageant crowns a campus beauty queen who represents Ghana's premier university.

 The 16 young, beautiful and intelligent girls who will battle for the coveted crown and a BYD FO saloon car, were introduced at the launch.

The winner will also receive GH¢1,000, a laptop computer and other prizes.

 The first runner up will receive one year scholarship, a laptop,  a return ticket to South Africa, GH¢1,000 and  six months supply of make up and other prizes. The second runner up will also take home GH¢500, one year scholarship, three month supply of make up, a laptop and other prizes while 4th -10th will receive GH¢200 and a hamper from sponsors.

 The contestants comprise Karen Aphour, Selma Zakaria, Vanessa Adugu, Barbara Sam, Maame Ellis, Lydia Lartey, Amanda Mensah, Maame Yaa Gyesi-Addo, Gifty Sarpong and Janice Annoh-Quarshie.
 The rest are Innocentia Yebuah, Abigail Mensah, Maame Akosua Agyepong, Sirina Mohammed, Margaret Kuma Mintah and Grace Asare.

 The next six weeks will be  crucial for the young ladies. Their ability to manage time and work effectively in a team will be tested. Eloquence, intelligence, confidence, affability, creativity, sense of humour among others will be the central in the bid for the ultimate prize.

 According to the organizers, activities for the next six weeks include trips to the Volta and Central regions of Ghana, grooming sessions, one day on a farm, sporting activities among the contestants, cooking competition, and talk sessions with very notable celebrities in Ghana, photo shots, party sessions etc.

Mr. Selase Attah, a member of Dreamworld, the organising company, told Showbiz that after weekly evictions, only 10 out of the 16 ladies will make it to the grand final on the  October 22 at the National Theatre.

 Sponsors of this year's Face of Legon 2010 pageant include Cofieco and Huang, eTV, YFM, Latex Foam, Juben, 9twenty5 jewelry, House of Diva, Smaquah Collections, Naadu Costumier, Wow Beauty, Le Jolie, Trap, Radio Universe, Indomie, New Waves Studios, Nike, Cedi Wear, Aesthetic, ameyawdebrah.com, SM Skillz Media Productions and Aphrodisiac Nite Club.

CHILD PROSTITUTION IN GHANA

By: Mary Ankrah
Many years ago prostitution was found among adult who were in the ages of eighteen years and above. But today, the reverse is the case. It is commonly seen among children between the ages of thirteen years to seventeen years.

Children are the future leaders of this country; therefore, the responsibility of bringing up a child into a well defined being should not be left in the hands of parents and relatives only. Parents and relatives have their roles to play and it is the concern of government to help in the up bringing of children in the society in other for them to grow and become good citizens and virtuous leaders of the nation. And so, government finds it necessary to establish the ministry of women and children’s affairs. This ministry is to find solutions to problems affecting women and especially children in the society.

Since education is one of the priorities for a developing country like Ghana to grow, it is necessary to invest into the future leaders of this nation, so it has provided free education from primary level to the secondary level. It has also provided free transport for all school going child to school and finally introduced the school feeding program nation wide.

 But the dreams of many youngsters have being shattered for several reasons. These have caused them to humiliate their bodies as sex objects for men. Child prostitution though illegal, is a very popular business in Accra.

Statistically, about 45 percent of children in Accra indulge in prostitution. Our elders say that ‘‘there is no smoke without fire’’. Literally means that there is a reason for everything. Have you imagine why teenage girls are into ‘‘sex trade’’? Are they forced into it or they are being materialistic? Child prostitution can lead to teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and high mortality in children.

To begin with, prostitution is not a valuable experience because people who are involve in ‘‘sex trade’’ are prone to sexual and venereal diseases such as HIV-AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis and so on. Poverty is the most difficult situation we have to deal with in our society. It expose people to so many challenges such as inability to attain education, acquire house, provide good food and clothes as to make life wealth living.

When these needs are not fulfill some parents especially mothers sell their children or give them to rich people who claim they will take care of their children by providing them with the basic needs of life such as food, shelter, clothes and education. These children are being taken to the city and exploited. They are also lured into the profession through false promises and good jobs. 

They are told all kinds of stories that entice them to stay. Those who prove stubborn are threatening that if they run away the police will arrest them or get lost or will be used by traditionalist for rituals. They then become afraid to go so they adapt to the conditions they are involved in. For the first one week, they are treated well. They are given food, free room to live and seductive clothes that expose their bodies. Then and then the training business stars. They are trained how to drink and smoke to remove shyness and fear from them and they are taught how to pose and seduce men.

Next, they are being taught skills like the ‘‘long and short shoot and the back and front method’’ said one of the young prostitute to attract customers to patronize them more. The training process takes less than one week and afterwards they enter the ‘‘sex trade” fully. At this stage they are to collect money for every service they offer for men whether short or long time.

According to one of these prostitute at solider bar in circle said that a short time cost Gh¢ 3.00 and long time cost Gh¢ 20.00 These young prostitutes are made to understand that in life one has to ‘‘use what she has to gain what she want’’ and this is a popular saying among these minors. They believe that the only way to alleviate poverty in their families is to sell their bodies as sex objects for men and the monies they gain can provide their desires.

Some of these children who were recently interviewed at solider bar at circle for instance said that they do not enjoy sleeping with different kinds of men everyday but they do not have any other alternative. They said their relatives have refused to help them and so they have to find a way to help their selves. For instance, a twelve years old girl from a rural area in central part of Ghana told the police when she was arrested that she was convinced to enter the act after realizing that it was the only way for her to survive the harsh realities of city life.

Another young girl whom I try to convince her to quit prostitution but did not adhere to my advice about eight months ago narrated her story to me ‘‘sister I come from a poor family and my mother is sick with no money to buy drugs for her or even take her to the hospital. I have to do this to help my family’’ as she said in the vernacular language. 

The little girl who was about fourteen years old told me that both her parents’ relatives refused to help or assist or even borrow them some money to start a little business. Her father was dead and men who wanted to help her all want to sleep with her before they could offer her any help. She tried so hard to resist them but could not any longer because her mother’s sickness was getting worse and needs medical attention so she had to go back to those men she had resisted before and sleep with them for money to take her poor mother to the hospital. Since then she had being in the business to support her poor mother and junior ones.

Many of these children who are prostitute come from a poor background homes from the rural areas or slum areas of the country to seek for greener pastures in the city but unfortunately for them when they come and life become unbearable for them, they resort to offer their bodies for men for money.

Secondly, broken home is another issue that has intensified child prostitution in Accra. When parents divorce or separate, it is the children who suffer most. The children are left under the control of a single parent, that is either the mother or father and if they do not receive the needed discipline, moral support, advice, parental love and care that will enable them behave well and decently, they become wayward. In fact, broken home creates unhappiness for children and makes them discontent with the situation. When the situation becomes more serious and there is no comfort at home, the child looks elsewhere, from anybody including men for happiness and love.

Also, in situations where parents re-marry, their first children may become victims of cruel stepmothers or fathers and abuse by them. In the process they fall prey to such illegal act. It is obvious that some of these young teens are affected in this way. 

The situation of Adoley at Ashiaman is a typical example to this fact. Adoley did not enjoy the love of her parents at her tender age. When her father separated with her biological mother, her father immediately married another woman and took her away from her mother to stay with him and his new wife and children. Her stepmother did not like her because she was intelligent than her step siblings. She was her father’s favorite child so when her stepmother realized that she started maltreating her. 

Whilst her siblings go to school early she was made to do all the domestic work before living to school. There was no day she was not flogged for lateness in school. Whenever her father was around, her stepmother pretended to be nice to her. She threatened to starve her the whole day and beat her if she reveals her action to her father or anybody. She kept this secret until now. 

One day, when her father had traveled, Adoley became sick. Her stepmother refused to take her to the hospital or buy her drugs. She could not bear the pains any more so she ran away from the house to look for help. After, being helped by a Good Samaritan, she refused to go back home. She preferred being a street child rather than staying with her wicked stepmother. Afterwards she met some group of girls in seductive clothes at Ashiaman ghetto who introduced her into the business. Ever since, she has become one of them.

Also, single parenthood arising form widowhood and other cases does not allow effective child nurturing. Children need affection and attention from parents and if this desires are not fulfill they become emotionally and physically affected. They may even grow up to hate their parents for pushing them into such situations they do not wish to enter.

It is important to add that, frustration leads many young girls into prostitution. When children are frustrated, they believe in the first point of contact and whatever that person tells them to do is what they do because they feel certainly that their prayers or desire are being granted indirectly by God. 

Most of these teens are from the rural areas that migrate to Accra in search for jobs and financial assistance for survival. When all chances of obtaining financial support or job prove futile they end up in prostitution. Especially most of these female children from the northern part of the country are involved in sex trade in area like Korkormba in Accra because that is the only means of livelihood for them .They are sexually exploited in exchange for protection while living on the street.

Again, some children who lose their parents as a result of accident or death become orphans when they are neglected by their relatives. They are sometimes being accused of witchcraft or accused of killing their own parents. If thoroughly investigation is not done to know the cause of parents death, they are left to their fate. And if proper planning is not done by parents in preparing a will, the children are deny of their inheritance. The family of the decease takes all their properties forgetting the children left behind. 

Out of frustration, the female children resort to prostitution to attain some money to cater for themselves other siblings. 

In addition, some children who some relatives have promise to help in paying their school fees or sponsoring them to school are most at times disappointed by these relatives. If the child is determined to acquire education, she indulges in this act to sponsor herself to school. Again, painful treatments and situation that occurs in some children’s life drive them into immoral act like prostitution.

In an interview with a minor prostitute at medina rehabilitation centre by Crusading guide, the young girl of about sixteen years said that frustration led her into the sex trade. According to reports, her parents were dead and her relatives took away her fathers properties because no will was covering it. She had no place to stay and was scared to live with any of the relatives so she obtained a job as a house-maid but unfortunately for her, she was raped twice by her master. She was emotionally disturbed. Whenever she was alone she feels strong desire for sex. She could not control her feeling and that was how she involves herself in the business.

However, most teenage girls have a high demand for things they cannot afford; they want to possess everything in the world with a twinkle of an eye. They always want to wear expensive and flashy dresses, own posh cars and acquire things above their means. The strong desire to satisfy these lustful lifestyles has force many of the teenage girls to use all possible means to achieve them. Most of these youngsters who are materialistic are easily influenced by friends who lure them into prostitution. Some adult who are aware of their materialistic life exploit them for money.

In a nut shell, it is necessary to organize a campaign to prevent child prostitution in Ghana. Sex education by school authorities, religious groups and parents should be encouraged because it is an effective weapon against sexual waywardness.

Secondly, the commission for children’s rights should remove children who are engage in prostitution from the street and should be sent to the rehabilitation center to be sensitized. When the teenage girls are taught the advantages of chastity, the stigma associated with sex trade, the dangers they are expose to and the need to be moral before God, they will at least be conscious of the vice as well as the disgrace that comes with such act.

The government should also provide them services or facilities like formal education, work or vocational to enable effective recovery these children. It is hope that this will protect children who out of frustration and necessity sacrifice their sexuality in order to satisfy a need.