GGBL supports two communities with water
Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) has cut the sod for the commencement of two Water-Health Centres for Alogboshie, a suburb of Achimota in the Ga West Municipality, and Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region.
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The projects cost GH¢515,000 and are fully funded by GGBL and the Diageo Foundation under its flagship community investment programme, Water of Life. Over 40,000 inhabitants of the two communities will have access to clean drinking water.
The projects bring to nine the total number of Water-Health Centres the GGBL and Diageo Foundation have sponsored across the country since 2012. A Water-Health Centre is a miniature water treatment system consisting of boreholes connected to a reverse osmosis plant that houses an ultraviolet lighting system that treats water.
Speaking at the sodcutting ceremony at Alogboshie, Mr Richard Ahiagble, Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility Manager for GGBL, said, “The selection of Alogboshie, a community close to our Achimota Brewery, and Atebubu, where we source local raw materials for our production is in line with our commitment to invest to enrich communities in which we have direct operations.”
He said last year, the company invested in a Community Health Post and constructed a classroom block as part of its employee volunteer programme for the Alogboshie community.
“These go to show our commitment to growing and empowering local communities,” he said.
According to him, recent research on the impact of the Water of Life programme showed that it had contributed to the reduction of water-related diseases from 15 per cent to three per cent in communities where Water of Life projects were established.
“We hope that with the construction of this facility, we can create jobs and empower the community members as well,” he said.
The Vice-President and Business Head of Water-Health Ghana, Mr Ekow Blankson, said: “The organisation, together with Guinness Ghana, has provided Water Health Centres to more than eight communities. He said the feedback from the communities was encouraging since the impact was tremendous.
“We are excited to partner on these projects and are happy with the level of support we are receiving from the two communities. We will train residents in the communities on ways to operate and manage the facility and employ them once the projects are completed. We will be creating local jobs and supporting livelihoods,” he said.
The Assembly Member for Alogboshie, Mr James Akogo, thanked GGBL for choosing to invest in the community. He said, “GGBL has been quick to respond to our need when we brought it to their attention. This water project will bring great relief to our community and will contribute to its development.”
