Guinness Ghana targets 70% use of local raw materials by 2024
Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), a leading total beverage company in the country, has commissioned a GH₵145 million modern brewhouse at Achimota in Accra, with the aim of increasing its use of local raw materials for production to 70% by 2024.
Currently, the company uses 61% local raw materials (LRM), up from the 12% as of 2003, a situation that the Managing Director (MD) for Guinness Ghana, Helene Weesie, has said the company was keen on increasing to 70% by in the next three years.
“This new investment will certainly stimulate and impact the local economy, as Guinness Ghana’s ambition is to increase usage of total raw material to 70% by 2024 and is committed to the LRM initiative, which continues to inject significant investment into the agricultural value chain,” Ms Weesie, said.
She explained that the new brewhouse would enable the company to use sorghum for the production of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout and Malta Guinness in the southern part of the country.
“The brewhouse that we have opened will enable this side (the southern part of the country) to produce with sorghum, and so far we were not able to do that. It was only in Kumasi that we had the equipment to use sorghum (for production).”
“This is going to have a major impact on the agriculture and the manufacturing industry,” she underscored.
The Guinness Ghana MD noted that the company has made significant investment in the cultivation of sorghum, re-engineering our brands, as well as innovation of brands that solely uses more local materials through its LRM concession.
“We therefore we need all stakeholders to work together and an enabling policy environment as this initiative has sustainable shared value for all involved, especially as it supports government’s Planting for Food and Jobs initiative,” she said.
Accordingly, Ms Weesie, said, Guinness Ghana would continue to work with farmers, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), because it takes a collaborative effort from all stakeholders.
Deputy Trade Minister commends Guinness Ghana
The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Herbert Krapa, commended the company for the success they have chalked in the beverage production industry since its establishment in 1960.
“It is an example of what experience and innovation can help achieve. In a market that is highly competitive, Guinness Ghana has shown that paying attention to every little need of the consumer is a guaranteed prescription for success,” he added.
He also commended the company for its use of local raw material, noting that the “benefits of this monumental investment to the Ghanaian economy are vast.”
“It means more jobs will be created in the manufacturing, distribution and sale of the products, increased revenue generation, many more farmers will be engaged in the out-grower schemes, and many more lives will be impacted positively,” Mr Krapa said.
On the part of the government, he said, the flagship Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme has been designed to enhance the capacity of farmers and to increase production of food and other agricultural products in the short to medium term.
He indicated that maize and sorghum, key ingredients used by the company for its production was an integral part of the PFJ, therefore, the government would give it the needed support.
“Guinness Ghana’s exemplary efforts form a strong case to pay more attention to the production of these grains, as government is committed to supporting the manufacturing sector in the area of value addition,” the deputy minister said.
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