Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), Ghana’s leading beverage company and a subsidiary of Diageo Plc, the world’s leading premium drinks business is commemorating World Water Day (WWD) this year, through a series of activities aimed at engaging its employees and focusing the attention of Corporate Ghana on the importance of and advocating for funding solutions that deliver sustainable management of freshwater resources. World Water Day is celebrated annually on March 22nd by the United Nations. Diageo has pledged to provide access to safe drinking water for 1 million people every year in Africa. In Ghana, since 2007, GGBL has invested in its flagship Water of Life (WoL) programme that now provides a portfolio of water initiatives designed to address different water stressed needs – from boreholes to bring ground water to small/rural communities; extension of pipelines to deliver running water; provision of filters to individuals, families and schools and investing in large mechanised water projects suitable for meeting the pressing needs of peri-urban communities. Peter Ndegwa, Managing Director of GGBL said ‘Water is life, literally. As a manufacturer we are faced with persistent water shortages and we know that access to safe drinking water makes a direct impact on productivity, efficiency and costs. The business community creates jobs, pays taxes and adds value to society. For many communities and people across Ghana, lack of access to safe drinking water translates into hours that should have been invested in education or productive labour spent walking to fetch water. If the water that is sourced is not clean, individuals, families and communities that are already often deprived, face an additional burden of health care costs. GGBL has made a difference in enriching the lives of over 100,000 people across Ghana since the inception of the Water of Life programme. We are continuing to invest in the programme. This year, we are urging Corporate Ghana to step up to the challenge as well’. GGBL’s WWD celebrations will begin with a CEO Breakfast Fundraiser jointly hosted by GGBL and the Coca Cola Company – corporate partners in the Safe Water for Africa (SWA) programme. The SWA partnership of the Coca Cola Foundation, Diageo Plc, the Diageo Foundation, GGBL, the International Finance Corporation – a member of the World Bank Group and WaterHealth International aims to bring safe, clean and affordable drinking water to up to 2 million West Africans by the end of 2013. In Ghana alone, the partners aim to build 50 water health centres funded by a grant of $10 million and an additional $10 million in equity and loans. To date, GGBL, Diageo and Diageo Plc have contributed $2 million in grants that in Ghana will provide 6 communities - Zeenu in the Greater Accra Region, Mampong in the Eastern Region; Volu and Ziope in the Volta region and Makango and Kpembe in the Northern region – with access to safe and affordable drinking water by the end of 2012. Ghana is in its historic first year of being declared Guinea worm free. The country is required to remain vigilant and guinea worm free for 3 consecutive years to 2014. Mr. Ndegwa said ‘in addition to our investment in SWA, GGBL and the Diageo Foundation are providing access to safe drinking water to 2 communities in the Northern region - Koblimahigu and Kakpagyili to prevent re-infestation of guinea worm and other water borne diseases.” GGBL with support from both Diageo North America and Diageo Ireland is completing baseline work required to launch a new Filters for Schools initiative, to enable access to filtered water to 100 schools in Ghana every year. GGBL employs more than 1000 people directly in its 2 breweries, Kaase its headquarters in Kumasi and in Achimota, and has created more than 37,000 jobs across its value chain in Ghana. The company will be raising funds internally to support the Filters for Schools initiative through a yard sale to employees on 22 March GGBL will also bring its award winning Guinness Football Challenge television show to life for its employees culminating in an inter site football match at the Ridge Park in Kumasi on Saturday March 24th, hosted by Nathaniel Attoh who leads the television show The inter site football event is open to all employees, our customers and key stakeholders in Kumasi and in addition 50 members of the public who can win tickets to the Ridge Park by answering questions about GGBL’s Water of Life programme and its flagship brand Guinness on a local radio station in Kumasi