Anloga, Volta Region — September 05 2026
The Executive Board of the Mama Hogbe Pageant has officially opened nominations for the 2026 edition of the competition, expanding its scope from an Anlo community initiative to a regional platform for young women across the Volta Region.
The expansion forms part of activities marking the annual Anlo-Hogbetsotso Festival and is aimed at using the pageant to promote Ewe cultural heritage, youth development, leadership, talent and community engagement across the region.
The Mama Hogbe Beauty Pageant, which has been associated with the Hogbetsotso Festival for more than six decades, was originally established as an Anlo community initiative. It was subsequently rebranded into a modern pageant in 2011, combining cultural education with talent, eloquence, confidence, leadership and personal development.
Under the expanded 2026 format, the competition is open to confident, disciplined and purpose-driven young women aged 18 to 30 from across the Volta Region.
The organisers say applicants must demonstrate an interest in their Ewe heritage and be able to communicate fluently in an Ewe dialect, irrespective of their traditional or geographical area within the region.
Speaking to Veritas News GH, Madam Laura Ledzi Attatsi, Quality Assurance Officer for the programme, in charge of monitoring, encouraged eligible young women to take advantage of the opportunity to represent their communities and promote their cultural heritage.
She said the pageant was designed to provide young women with a platform to develop their confidence, leadership abilities and appreciation of Ewe culture.
Regional Expansion
Explaining the decision to expand the competition, Mr Benard “Rhussia” Worlali Awumee, Executive Director in charge of Operations, said the move followed extensive consultations with key stakeholders, particularly the leadership of the Anlo Traditional Council, the progenitors of the programme and other stakeholders.
He explained that although the pageant had historically focused on Anlo culture, the decision to broaden its scope was informed by the shared cultural connections among Ewe communities across the Volta Region.
According to him, many cultural practices, traditions and values shared among Ewe communities provide a strong foundation for bringing young people together through the platform.
He said the regional character of the competition was therefore intended not to diminish its Anlo heritage, but to use the established Mama Hogbe platform as a bridge for greater youth engagement, cultural exchange and unity among Ewe communities. “Ewe people share a common historical connection to the Notsie Exodus, and since the Hogbeza Festival was established to commemorate that historic journey, it is only appropriate and timely to use the pageant as a platform to further project and promote this shared heritage.”
Platform for Women’s Leadership
The pageant also continues to position itself as a platform for developing young women beyond the competition itself.
Mama Diawor II of Anlo-Afiadenyigba, who encouraged eligible young Ewe women to participate, said her experience with the pageant had demonstrated its potential to nurture young women into leadership and advocacy roles.
“Since my involvement with this pageant some years ago, we have groomed and shaped ladies into leaders, media personalities, advocates and a lot of positions that we can boldly say the programme has achieved its aim,” she said.
According to the organisers, contestants are assessed on areas including knowledge of Ewe culture, talent, eloquence, confidence, personality and other competencies.
The eventual winners are also expected to undertake community-impact projects and advocacy initiatives aimed at addressing identified challenges within their communities. The reigning winners are currently holding their projects including stationery donations to 2026 BECE candidates in May 2026, as well as a free skills training program in this September among other key projects
This component, the organisers say, ensures that the pageant extends beyond entertainment and beauty to produce young women capable of contributing meaningfully to community development.
Prizes and Opportunities
The 2026 winners are expected to receive a range of prizes and opportunities, including cash awards, electrical appliances, citations, travel opportunities, mentorship, support for community projects, opportunities to participate in national pageant auditions and exclusive sponsor souvenirs.
The ultimate prize remains the prestigious Mama Hogbe Crown, with the winner serving as an ambassadorial face of the Pageant and its cultural and developmental objectives across Eweland and the Volta Region.
Registration and Key Dates
Registration for the 2026 competition is currently open at a fee of GH¢200.
Interested applicants can complete the nomination process through the official Mama Hogbe website www.mamahogbe.com or obtain forms from selected radio stations. The registration deadline is Saturday, October 10, 2026.
The grand finale is scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, in Anloga, on the eve of the main Hogbeza Grand Durbar.
With its expanded regional scope, the Mama Hogbe Pageant is seeking to leverage the cultural significance of the Hogbetsotso Festival to provide a broader platform for young women to celebrate their heritage, develop leadership skills and contribute to community development.
The organisers are inviting eligible young women from across the Volta Region to participate in what they describe as a new chapter in the evolution of the Mama Hogbe Pageant.
