Miss Ghana finalists dig for gold

Over the weekend, the twenty charming, witty and alluring finalists for this year’s Miss Ghana beauty contest trekked to the mineral-rich community of Tarkwa in the Western Region to embark on community service development projects at the heart of Gold Fields Ghana’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

A superfluity mixture of fun, adventure, passion, a bit of craziness, emotions and some very touching moments through the five day working trip, summed up the essence of beauty with substantial purpose that could be of help to mankind.

And even after that long-winded trip which took the contestants and the crew through the very hustle-bustle streets in Accra, Winneba, Sekondi and Takoradi, up to the smashingly-beautiful town of Tarkwa, there was never a dull moment as the girls enjoyed in the largesse that came with the trip and quickly got straight into action just minutes after arriving in Tarkwa.

On the first day of their five day working visit, the contestants were taken through an induction and orientation exercise by Mr. Mubashir T Dari, Community Affairs Manager of Gold Fields Ghana, Ms. Leticia Appiah- Asiamah and Mr. Gerard Boakye, Public Affairs Officer during which they were educated on the operations of the company and other general information vital to first time visitors. After a long day’s out and about in the fields, in two groups of ten each, they contestants engaged pupils from the Gold Fields Ghana School Complex and Brahabobom School on topics such as HIV/AIDS, Teenage Pregnancy, Malaria prevention, Water Hygiene and Sanitation amongst others.

The Q&A at both schools generated a lot of interest from both pupils and teachers who, clearly had more than enough knowledge on the subjects treated, to make the sessions lively. With the use of teaching aids such as drama coupled with the depth of knowledge of the contestants in their subject areas, the intended messages was well received across board.

True to the over- a-year held Miss Ghana 2010 mantra of the search for gold, and as if that was all they could contain on day two, the twenty finalists received a surprise package when a rare opportunity to see the gold pour, was handed them by officials of the outfit and also had the opportunity of feeling the real Gold after a quasi demonstration exercise by Mr. Errol Drake, Acting General Manager of Gold Fields Ghana was conducted at the Heap Leach section of the mine.

For those who had not seen a bar of gold before, it was a dream come true and one never-to-be-forgotten.

And to sum a day full of gold and nothing more, a grand entry into Damang, another mining town of Gold Fields Ghana, for a durbar with the chief and people of the area, amidst a large unanticipated crowd, became the icing on the cake when in typical brass band procession, the twenty finalists were ushered in and out of the Chief’s palace to befit the celebrities status they carry.

The last day of the visit, saw all twenty contestants engage in community service work at the Tarkwa Government Hospital. From the cleaning of the Hospital surroundings and just about anything that could stand in the way of safety and hygiene, the contestants gave a very good account of themselves and proved that beauty pageants isn’t all about the make-ups, camera, lights, action!

Thanks to Gold Fields Ghana, the trip passed for a success, one that would be forever etched in the history of the competition.