Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Friday expressed the joy that for the first time beauty had been defined in African terms. He said Africa was blessed to have such beauties the Continent's future was bright.

The Minister said this when the nine contestants participating in the Miss Africa Queen beauty pageant paid a courtesy call on him in Accra.

The participants are from Ghana; Gabon; Liberia; Zambia; Guinea; Niger; Cote d'Ivoire; Kenya and Mali would be on contest at the La-Palm Royal Beach Hotel on September 2, 2006.

The pageant organised by XYZ Agency, a beauty pageant agency, is to allow the contestants to exhibit their country's culture, and their own intelligence and beauty.

Mr Bartels reminded the girls that they were all intelligent and beautiful and so "if you do not take the crown, your intelligence and beauty will take you to places".

The Deputy Minister, Mrs Oboshie Sai-Coffie said Africans had a culture and it was nice for them to come together to share their rich culture.

Ms Zynab Ayesha Passah, Chief Executive Officer of XYZ Agency, said the contestants were between the ages of 18 years and 25 years and their height was not a factor since African women were not really tall. She said the winner would take home 2,000 dollar cash prize, a wardrobe worth 1,000 dollars; a set of gold jewellery; a car; a two-month intensive carrier programme and other prizes plus the ultimate crown.