Tourism in Ethiopia - Millennium Pageant Controversy

Millennium Pageant Controversy

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which is responsible for developing and promoting tourism in Ethiopia, was embroiled in a major controversy surrounding a beauty pageant in celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium in 2007. Allegedly Mohamouda Ahmed Gaas and officials from the ministry obtained promotional services from a UK based company for the Ethiopian Millennium, but refused to pay after the event took place. Following claims of failure to pay major bills, in December 2009 the company commenced formal legal action in the British courts, seeking a total payment of US$1,022,810.52, comprising US$488.500.00 principal debt and US$543,310.52 interest and late fees.

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