The Africa Representative of The Royal Commonwealth Society has disassociated itself from the Miss Commonwealth Ghana beauty pageant. According to a press statement by the Africa representative, signed by John Apea, “the Miss Commonwealth Ghana beauty pageant is not affiliated or accredited by the Commonwealth of Nations.” This statement comes after a former contestant of the Miss Commonwealth had accused the organisers of the pageant for abusing her in a shrine for stealing some 500 from the pageantry’s house. The CEO of the beauty pageant released a rejoinder to deny all allegations levelled against her in Nana Ama Essiens’s narrations. “From what we have gathered, the Miss Commonwealth Ghana beauty pageant is an offshoot of the Miss Commonwealth UK organisation, a not-for-profit organisation legally registered in the United Kingdom. “However, it is not an organisation accredited, endorsed or affiliated to the Commonwealth Network or any institution within that network,” the statement from the Commonwealth society read. Read the full statement: Miss Commonwealth Ghana is not affiliated with or accredited by the Council of Commonwealth Societies The Commonwealth office representing the Africa region wishes to state, unequivocally that the Miss Commonwealth Ghana beauty pageant is not affiliated or accredited by the Commonwealth of Nations. The Africa Representative of The Royal Commonwealth Society, which acts as the Secretariat for all Commonwealth organisations stated: “The Commonwealth Network is made up of many organisations – intergovernmental and civil society organisations, that ascribe to the Singapore Declaration and the Harare Declaration. It is home to over 2.4 billion citizens, spread across all the continents of the world; 60% of this population are under the age of 30 years old”. He added: “From what we have gathered, the Miss Commonwealth Ghana beauty pageant is an offshoot of the Miss Commonwealth UK organisation, a not-for-profit organisation legally registered in the United Kingdom. However, it is not an organisation accredited, endorsed or affiliated to the Commonwealth Network or any institution within that network. At present, the organisations accredited or affiliated to the Commonwealth Network who have /have had a presence in Ghana are:  Royal Commonwealth Society, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Commonwealth Bar Association, Commonwealth Journalist Association, Commonwealth Pharmacist Association, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and Commonwealth Local Government Forum”. All media enquiries should be directed to media@thercsafrica.org Signed, Mr John Apea M.Sc (Oxon.) Africa Coordinator, The Royal Commonwealth Society