Court restrains organisers of Face of Universe Pageant

Friday, October 17, 2008 (Page 14)

THE Accra High Court yesterday restrained 1st Royal Events Limited, organisers of Exquisite Face of the Universe Beauty Pageant, from fielding the first runner-up of the 2007 pageant, Nana Yaa Adadewa, as Ghana’s representative in the upcoming international event.
It, accordingly, ordered the organisers to field the winner of the 2007 pageant, Ms Alberta Nana Adwoa Arhin, as Ghana’s representative in the pageant which will be held at the National Theatre on Saturday, October 18, 2008.
The order, which takes immediate effect, is valid for 10 days.
According to the court, irreparable damage would be occasioned if Ms Arhin was not allowed to take part in the event.
The court’s order followed an application for an ex-parte for an order of interim injunction filed on behalf of Ms Arhin by her solicitors, Awoonor Law Consultancy, pending the outcome of the substantive suit.
In the substantive suit, Ms Arhin is praying the court to order 1st Royal Events Limited to transfer the ownership of a VW Golf saloon car, with registration number GT 1318 Z, in her name.
The plaintiff is also praying the court to order 1st Royal Events Limited to pay GH¢700 plus interest with effect from January 1, 2008 till the date of final payment.
She is also praying the court to award costs in her favour.
In an affidavit in support of her application, Ms Arhin deposed that she participated in the Exquisite Face of the Universe Beauty Pageant in 2007, from which she emerged the winner.
She said as part of her price for winning the Exquisite Face of the Universe Pageant 2007, she was given a VW Golf saloon car which the defendant had to date failed to transfer into her name as the legitimate owner, despite her persistent demand for same to be effected.
According to her, 1st Royal Events Limited had failed to pay her the full amount of the price money of GH¢1,000 for winning the said pageant held in 2007.
“I caused my solicitors to write to the defendant to pay the full amount of the price money of GH¢1,000 and till date the defendant has only paid GH¢300, leaving an unpaid and outstanding balance of GH¢700 which defendant has refused and/or failed to pay, despite persistent demands for same,” she said.
“That it was when I was being engaged by some of the sponsors of the said beauty pageant that I got to know that the prices for the said pageant, as promised by the sponsors, have been honoured and given to defendant for onward transmission to plaintiff but the defendant has failed and/or refused to deliver same,” Ms Arhin contended.
According to Ms Arhin, the organisers adopted an antagonistic posture towards her when they got to know she had had credible information, through one of the sponsors of the said event, about payments made for which she had not been paid.
She further averred that to her surprise, the defendants had replaced her with the first runner-up to represent Ghana at the upcoming international event.
According to Ms Arhin, she would lose the opportunity to enhance her image and recognition as a model if she was restrained from participating in the said international event as part of her prize package.