Earning the attention of a woman typically involves considerable effort, romantic gestures, and numerous proposals from potential suitors aiming to win her heart. While this aspect of courtship has remained relatively unchanged over generations, the story of Ghana’s first-ever beauty queen, Monica Amekoafia, brings a unique twist.
Crowned at the age of 22 in 1957, Monica Amekoafia became the first Miss Ghana, representing Trans-Volta Togoland, now known as the Volta Region. Contestant number 9 in the pageant, she earned the nickname or general tagline “Number 9” for all Ewes in Ghana.
Despite the traditional courtship process, Miss Amekoafia’s experience was exceptional. After winning the beauty contest, she disclosed in an interview published in the April 3, 1957, edition of the state-owned newspaper Daily Graphic that she received over 100 marriage proposals. The overwhelming attention led her to stay up until midnight, listening to the various proposals from interested suitors.
Furthermore, Monica mentioned that winning the beauty contest brought an avalanche of letters from men, both locally and internationally, expressing their desire to propose marriage to her.
“In Accra alone, over 100 suitors had called on her and sometimes she had to stay up all night listening to them,” the paper wrote.
Despite these attempts, Monica told the Daily Graphic that she was excited about her trip to Britain at the time and did not currently have any plans to get married.
She emphasised that “If I should fall in love in Britain. I shall have to return to Ghana first before deciding on the next step to take.”
See the newspaper clipping from April 3, 1957, below:
