The maiden virtual edition of the Ghana Beverage Awards has been successfully organised in adherence to the stipulated COVID-19 protocols with Club Beer emerging winner of the prestigious Product of the Year award.
Other winners on the night include, Voltic Natural Mineral Water, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Alomo Bitters, Blue Skies, Rush Energy Drink, Vitamilk Chocolate and Kpoo Keke Liqueur.
The maiden virtual edition of the awards which was streamed live online and on e.TV Ghana, GTV and GTV Sports Plus was held under the theme, ‘Inspiring excellence in Ghana’s beverage industry’ with the aim of promoting both local and foreign beverages as well as the participation of small-scale beverage enterprises in Ghana.
The Chief Executive Officer of Global Media Alliance Group (GMA), Mr Ernest Boateng in his remarks explained the rationale behind the virtual awards: “Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic both in Ghana and globally, as a nation we have been advised by the President of our Republic to adhere to all the social distancing protocols and other directives which will help us to control the spread of COVID-19. We have therefore gone ahead to organise the virtual awards and stream live both on TV and online.”
“As an organisation, this is our way of proceeding to celebrate excellence in the beverage industry while adhering to all the recommended directives without endangering lives,” he explained.
In a lead-up to this year’s awards, a beverage industry tour was organised for the GBA board to visit nominated companies to familiarise with their work and practices.
This initiative is one of the new activities which was introduced in the build-up to the 2019 Awards Night.
This year, GBA introduced two new categories; Local Beverage Advertisement of the Year and International Liqueur of the Year.
The addition of the new categories is to acknowledge feedback from stakeholders, particularly consumers who have been instrumental in the nominations phase. The Local Beverage Advertisement of the Year Award went to Kasapreko at 20 while the International Liqueur of the Year was won by Bailey’s Irish Cream.
The Ghana Beverage Awards is organised by Global Media Alliance. Supporting partners are the Food Research Institute under CSIR, Ghana Tourism Authority, Consumer Protection Agency and the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana.
BY TIMES REPORTER
