A 20-year-old student from the Western Region, Miss Shaida Buari has been crowned Miss Ghana at the finals of the Club Pleasure pageant held at the National Theatre in Accra over the weekend.

Miss Buari who is aspiring to enter the university to study law takes over from last year’s winner, Miss Selasi Kwawu who incidentally also represented the Western Region. For her prize, Shaida toke home a brand new Ibiza saloon car, a ticket to Miss World, ?3 million cash for her Miss World wardrobe and ?500,000 monthly allowance.

This year’s even attracted 15 contestants instead of the original 20. There were no contest in the Northern Region and three contestants from the Brong Ahafo, Upper West and Central Region failed to turn up.

The second runner-up was Sandra Ankobia, 19 years old and from the Ashanti Region. For her prize, she took home a double-door fridge, a set of furniture and ?2,500,000 for career enhancement. Miss Ankobia was also crowned Miss Talent. Berverly Asamoah Jecty, 19 years and a student of the Ghana Institute of Languages in Accra, representing Brong Ahafo Region, was crowned the second runner-up. She also took home a 20-inch television set, a set of furniture and ?2 million, also for her career enhancement.

In the special awards, Hamza Sahadatu Sename, a 21-year-old fashion designing student of Ho Polytechnic, was named Miss Personality while Miss Eloquence went to Sheila Chanase, a 21-year-old student of the University of Cape Coast. The award for spectacular gown went to Miss Buari, the eventual winner.

The show, believed to be one of the best in recent times, was sponsored by Accra Brewery, Akosombo Textiles and Masai Motors with support form Trokko Buck Press, Graphic-Showbiz, Peace FM, Labadi Beach Hotel and a host of others. After the beach wear, talent hunt and question time, the field was pruned down to eight for the winner Miss Buari to talk and dance her way to the top.

The renowned Ghanaian musician, Daddy Lumber brought the large crowd virtually on its feet with a rendition of some of his popular songs. Also impressive was Daasebre Gyamenah and Adjetey Sowah and his dancers who put up a highly successful choreographed show.

Pictures of all contestants