A Muslim lady by name Zainab Alhassan has exposed TV3 for their gross disrespect and discrimination they exhibited towards her when she auditioned for their flagship entertainment and informative programme, Ghana’s Most Beautiful.
READ ALSO: Ghanaian Musicians Whose Death in 2020 Shocked Us All
The lady apparently auditioned for the reality show when the show’s train hit Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Taking to her Facebook page to narrate what truly transpired, the graduate of the Ghana Institute of Journalism was told by actor Prince David Osei who was one of the judges on the day that she was very good but her refusal to remove her hijab as instructed means she had to be disqualified.
Read the full story below:
Last year, when two hijab wearing Muslim ladies were accepted into the run to become Miss Malaika, one of the many beauty pageants in our country, I was very impressed. Finally! I said to myself, progress has been made.
The issue of the hijab has been a debate in the Ghanaian society. After several years of discrimination in schools and workplaces against Muslim women who choose to cover up, several social Media protests, debates and marches were held across Ghana last year to protest against hijab discrimination. It is however very surprising that after this much progress has been made, a beautiful and qualified lady will be prevented from participating in this year’s TV3 Ghana’s most beautiful because she insisted on wearing her hijab.
READ ALSO: More Headache For Chioma As Davido Allegedly Tangos With Another Woman In US Hotel
Ms. Zainab Alhassan, a graduate of the Ghana Institute of Journalism took her chances to partake in this year’s Kumasi audition to represent her region in the 2020 Ghana’s Most Beautiful competition. Her dream was however cut short when she was told by judge Prince David Osei that: “Zainab you are very good but since You decided not to remove your hijab there is nothing we can do.” Really Tv3 Ghana? There’s nothing you can do about a very obvious beautiful and qualified Ghanaian lady who is passionate about her region and is ready to showcase it to the world? When did Muslims stop being a part of the Ghanaian culture?
Ms. Zainab was auditioning to represent the Upper West Region. The region’s capital, Wa is a highly Muslim populated community, yet, she was turned away because of one of the things that make her a true Upper Westerner? Salma Mumin you’re an Upper Westerner. Shouldn’t you know better? It is very ironic that Both Salma Mumin and Prince David Osei who were the judges present during the audition were so quick to jump into the on-going protests about racism and the killing of black men in the United States of America.
Forgive me for even trying to compare what Ms. Zainab went through to what several African-American people go through on a daily basis. But discrimination on any level is still discrimination, and this is why some sections of Ghanaians believe we shouldn’t even include ourselves in the on-going protests about racism.
Dear TV3 Ghana you have recently won my heart with your new structure and programming, please keep this level of progress you have made intact and don’t soil it by encouraging something as despicable as this.
READ ALSO: Nollywood Actresses Who Married Other Women’s Husband
The Muslim woman is also a Ghanaian woman. If you are going to turn someone away, do it on a concrete basis, not because of her tribe, religion, or sex.
#Hijabisanidentity.
