Press Release
The reigning Miss Universe Leila Lopes will be visiting Ghana
between June 9-12, 2012 as part of her tour of West Africa. While in Ghana, Miss Universe
2012 will visit the SOS Children’s villages in Tema, pay courtesy calls on the Vice President
His Excellency John Mahama as well the Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, and be the
Guest of Honour at a cocktail reception.
Ms. Lopes went from being Miss Angola to become Miss Universe 2011 at the 60
th
Miss Universe pageant in Rio Janeiro, Brazil. It was the first time in 12 years that an African
woman has held the title of Miss Universe. She became the second black African woman
ever to be a Miss Universe titleholder
Miss Universe 2011, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, will tour Senegal, Cote
d’Ivore, Togo, and Nigeria on this trip. She will be visiting various orphanages raising
awareness about HIV/Aids and educating children and women in her commitment to help
achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Miss Lopes is scheduled to
meet university students in all the four countries she visits. She will also meet government
ministers with whom she hopes to share her views on poverty alleviation and the need for
spreading education opportunities.
She said: “I am grateful to Ecobank and Roberta Annan Consulting for arranging this
trip for me. I know that Africa was recently commended for making impressive strides
towards achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by 2015. However,
much more needs be done to lift millions of Africans out of poverty and in educating our Page%2%of%3
people about the dangers of HIV/Aids. I also see the tour as an opportunity to celebrate
African achievements, which are often understated,” she added.
Leila Lopes’ visit to Ghana will be the first of a reigning Miss Universe to the
country, an initiative of the Roberta Annan Consulting Group. Mrs. Roberta Annan, President
of the US-based consulting company during a meeting yesterday with Ms. Leila Lopes, Miss
Universe 2011 said: “We are very excited about this trip and in full support of Miss
Universe's mission to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS orphans. The SOS organization is a
great model and one that is to be commended for its contributions to African children said .
Commenting on this historic visit, R. Ayite Okyne, Chief Executive Officer of The
Insignia Group and National Director of the Miss Universe Ghana pageant said, “We are
delighted that the first Miss Universe titleholder we have the pleasure to host is a product of
Angola; a product of Africa. It is testament that Africa and African women can compete on
the international stage and excel. We hope this visit will be a source of both pride and
inspiration for the young women of Ghana. The country and people of Ghana look forward to
welcoming Miss Lopes and demonstrating that Ghanaians are ‘the friendliest people in
Africa’.” The Miss Universe® Ghana Pageant, is the official national preliminary of the
international Miss Universe® Pageant, licensed by Donald Trump’s Miss Universe®
Organization.
The tour is being sponsored by Ecobank, the leading Pan-African bank. Ecobank
CEO Arnold Ekpe said he was delighted that Ecobank was associated with Miss Lopes’s
campaign, as she is a symbol of African achievement and excellence. “Many in our target
audience, especially the youth contingent, are highly aspirational and resonate with the
associations of success, achievement and collective concern for the people of Africa, that Page%3%of%3
Miss Universe represents,” Mr. Ekpe said. Meanwhile, Ecobank has started a student
promotion to fit into the tour in each country Miss Lopes visits.
Other local partners include the Labadi Beach Hotel, Universal Motors, Pernod
Ricard, Safina Water, the Angolan Embassy, Renee Q, Sankofa Wear, Pashmel Development
Group and Afua Owusu Designs.
Roberta Annan Consulting Group (RAC) is a management firm that specializes in
aligning investors with government agencies with the aim of stimulating economic, social
and political growth. RAC’s clients value our unique ability to apply state-of-the-art
approaches clearly and convincingly, our commitment to delivering unbiased results in a
timely fashion, and our reputation for quality and success in all sectors. Our clients rely on
the integrity and skills of our unparalleled team of consultants and other experts supported by
our vast range of contacts and partners. With our headquarters in New York, New York and
Accra, Ghana, RAC serves clients from sites across West Africa and North America.
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For further information, please contact
Mrs. Audrey Swanzy-Essandoh,
National Coordinator, Miss Universe Ghana
+233.(0)27.755.1247
