Gifty Ofori, who until May 23 was Miss Universe Ghana 2012, has sued organizers of the pageant for failing to give her prizes and also stripping her of her title. The Insignia Group, co-organizers of the 2012 Miss Universe Ghana beauty pageant, stripped Gifty of her title barely hours to the crowing of the 2013 Miss Universe Ghana on May 24. The Insignia Group in a  press statement  said the decision was necessitated by several interviews Gifty Ofori, winner of the 2012 pageant granted the media that she has not received her prizes which they claimed contravened the pageant’s laws.

The Insignia Group  said in accordance to the rules stipulated in the 2012 Miss Universe Ghana Entry Form and Contract Agreement, Gifty is no longer entitled or permitted to use the title and position of  ‘Miss Universe Ghana 2012’ in anyway, and she is also not in a position to allow the use of the title by anyone in reference to her.

Gifty Ofori has filed  a writ of summons issued in the High Court of Justice on June 6, 2013 against the 2012 organizers of the pageant – Insignia Experience and Roberta Annan Consulting – for breach of contract and illegally stripping her of her title. According to Axis Legal, who are representing Gifty Ofori in court,  they are suing the organizers because they have breached a contract between them and Gifty. He stressed that the organisers have failed to deliver on the number of promises made to her.

According to the legal firm, the organizers inserted certain clauses in the contract with the “intention to defraud her”. They said , the organizers failed to give Gifty the prizes due her and when she complained, they stripped her of her title. Axis Legal said they will, amongst other things, seek to get the organizers of the pageant pay or award Gifty Ofori all the prizes due her, restore her title as Miss Universe 2012 and also pay for the breach of contract.

Gifty’s counsel said they hope the case will be heard in about two weeks’ time. ]]>