Welcome and thank you all for patronizing the Miss ECOWAS Ghana 2011 Pageant. The Pageant is a cultural showcase of Ghana's beauty and intellect and it provides a medium for high-achieving young ladies to advocate for issues relevant to Peace Building and Stability, focusing on "The Effect of Illicit Possession and the Usage of Narcotic Drugs on the Youth and the Nation", our sub-theme for this year. More than just a beauty pageant, this is a forum which opens up communication amongst these young ladies to discuss issues of peace, self-worth, peer pressure, self-esteem and other related issues that is rampant amongst our youth today.

This year, you will see twelve (12) beautiful, intelligent, dynamic young ladies, who for over a month, have learnt a lot about themselves, the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), developmental issues and the handling of the pressures of life. More importantly, they have learnt how to reconcile Peace in their daily lives and how to be at Peace with others no matter what the background, attitude and beliefs are. I sincerely hope this experience will go a long way in establishing great rapport, camaraderie and long-lasting friendships between our delegates.

Miss ECOWAS Ghana 2011, in addition to wonderful prizes and a year of advocacy work spreading the message of Peace and Abstinence from Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trade, two of our Peace Delegates are going to win the opportunity to represent Ghana at this year's ECOWAS Peace Pageant scheduled to be held in Nigeria in December.

We would like to acknowledge and convey our utmost gratitude to the Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) for their support. Our profound gratitude also goes to the following: the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Honorable Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Mr. Stephen Dapaah Addo, Esq., and Mr. Nii Amoo Cudjoe. We are grateful for your continuous support of our efforts to contribute to the Peace-building process.

To our sponsors and supporters: CCTC Rice Master's, Lifestyle Gallery, Oak Plaza Hotels, and Paba Cosmetic, we say a big 'Thank You'; Without your support the dream might not have seen the light of day.

Miss ECOWAS Ghana 2011 On behalf of the staff of 702 Productions Ltd., the 2011 Peace Delegates and the entire Production team, I wish to thank all our Traditional Rulers who have continued to support our efforts; A true demonstration of the need for all of us to join hands in advocating for the culture of Peace against violence. I would like to encourage all to continue to support events such as this because it shows the youth that we are interested in their future prospects and they have our full support in all their endeavors.

As the saying goes, "Teach a child the way she should go and she will never depart from it", Let us teach Peace today and our world would have a better tomorrow. Thank you.

MAXINE MENSON
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER