The 2013 edition of Miss Universe Ghana has started but Gifty Ofori, the winner of the last year’s pageant, is yet to receive the prize package promised her by organisers, Insignia Experience and RAC Group.
NEWS-ONE has gathered that the two companies have split over the organization of the event and this may be the reason they are dragging their feet in releasing the prizes to the winner.
The 24-year-old model and nurse was supposed to be given a list of prizes including an official car service for her year of reign, an all expense paid trip to the 61st Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, a three-month internship at the United Nations in New York, and a presentation and modeling portfolio shot by celebrity photographer Fadil Berisha in New York.
The rest are a Samsung Note 3 phone tablet, four pages editorial spread in an international magazine, personal celebrity stylists in New York, Los Angeles and Accra and also management and representation by the Insignia Experience/RAC Group as well as a year of incredible experience of celebrity status and adventure. Per her contract, she will also be given a house to live in for her year of reign.
NEWS-ONE reached Gifty and asked her about the prize package and this was her response: “I have only received Samsung Galaxy, my trip to represent Ghana at 61st edition Miss Universe in the US and the photo shoot I did. I have not received the vital packages.”
She said she had not received any official car service to go about her project. She is embarking on a reading programme and HIV sensitization project and has been using public transport to carry out the project. The internship with the United Nations has also not materialized just as she didn’t see any feature about her in any international magazine. Also, she has not been given that celebrity status she was promised from the beginning.
“While I was in the USA, I was waiting for internship with the UN to happen but it never happened. When I came back, I had to go out and solicit for funds for my project which I need to do. It was difficult for me because everything has to come from my pocket. Meanwhile, I have been raised to a certain standard and I have been left hanging with no one supporting me.
I have always expected the two companies to let us sit down and talk about what needs to be done but nothing is happening. They don’t care about my feelings,” she added.
The organisers would neither pick their phones nor reply to numerous text messages sent to them seeking an explanation for the apparent disappointment, when NEWS-ONE tried reaching them.
