Minister Denies Miss Ghana Claim

The minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, Mr. Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey has taken exception to a statement credited to him by the organisers of the LG Miss Ghana beauty pageant, describing it as forgery.

In a strongly worded statement issued by the ministry, which tended to cast aspersion on the integrity of the organisers, Sparrow Productions Limited said: "The attention of Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, the minister has been drawn to a publication in the ?LG Miss Ghana 2005' brochure in which a message to the event has been falsely attributed to him.

"The minister wishes to protest in the strongest possible terms the false attribution which in simple and plain language, is forgery," the statement signed by Mr. Ferdinand O. Ayim, special assistant to the minister, said.

In the said statement, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey was reported to have paid a glowing tribute to the organisers of the Miss Ghana pageant, Sparrow Productions Limited, for taking the contest to a new level.

"My interaction with the two young dynamic ladies of Sparrow Productions has been highly encouraging. I have found all the hallmarks of great achievers in them. They are energetic, bright, hardworking and very pushy. If their persuasiveness and their ability to get things done is anything to go by, I think the pageant is in safe hands with them" Jake was reported to have stated in the brochure. But Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey insisted that the statement did not emanate from him. "The minister did not send any such message to the organisers for the reported event and is shocked to find the use of the statement purported to have emanated from him, complete with his photograph," the statement indicated.

"The ministry wishes to state, categorically, that messages from the minister are not given for events as a matter of course. They based on a number of factors, principally, the character of the event and its organisers, as well as the ministry's desire to associate with it," emphasised.

The tourism minister therefore cautioned the organisers to desist from using the image of the minister to achieve fame. The statement warned, "any repetition of this most unacceptable act by any organisation, will be treated for what it is, forgery, and dealt with accordingly. The minister, therefore, demanded for unqualified apologies from the organisers for the action.