I never promised a brand-new car to Miss Legon – Guru

The controversy surrounding the car awarded to the Miss University of Ghana, popularly known as Miss Legon, has finally been clarified, with pageant founder Guru explaining the circumstances behind the much-debated prize.

In a recent statement on Kumasi-based Angel Fm monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Guru clarified that while the winner was to receive a car, there was never a promise that it would be brand new. “We emphasised clearly that the winner would go home with a car, not a brand-new car. The confusion came because there was a verbal discussion about a new car, but with COVID-19, the school had to suspend the contest, and all the sponsors withdrew,” he said.

Originally, the pageant had planned for the winner to receive a cash prize and a fully paid trip to Dubai, with 60% of the final score based on votes and 40% on performance. “When COVID hit, we had to switch it to 40% voting and 60% performance,” Guru explained. He further stressed that the school could only budget GH₵10,000 for the entire program, forcing a shift from a new car to a pre-owned vehicle.

Regarding the condition of the car, Guru stated, “I bought the car three days before the event. I personally used and tested it, and there was nothing wrong with it. It was purchased from a reputable agent, and we ensured it was in good working order.”

The pageant queen reportedly began raising complaints about the car one to two months after receiving it. Guru said he immediately engaged the dealer to investigate. “We asked her to bring the car in, and we invited the dealer. He told us that he did not encounter any problems and insisted the car was in good condition when sold.”

Guru also revealed that the dealer had learned the queen’s boyfriend and friends were reportedly driving the car like a sports vehicle, which may have caused the issues. “The car is not a sports car; any damage would be from misuse. All along, I was representing the queen. If there were real problems, we were ready to repair the car or return the money,” Guru added.