Felix Agyei, a bar tender at The View Bar and Grill in Kumasi has been adjudged the Top Master Bartender at the Master Bar Academy (MBA) 303 event held at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel.

The event organised by Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) is the climax of a comprehensive Master Bar Academy (MBA) programme designed to enhance the capabilities of bar tenders in Ghana.

MBA is Africa’s largest bartending programme run by Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business and the parent company of GGBL.

Speaking after the event Agnes Essah, Marketing Director of GGBL noted that ‘to be a Top Master Bartender requires dedication, a winning personality and skill. [The Top Master Bartender] must also have completed the two modules of the programme – MBA 101 and 202 which provide training on customer service, bartender secrets and responsible drinking."

 To date, the training programme has taken place in more than 30 cities within Africa, and has trained over 14,000 bartenders’.

A total of 35 participants qualified for the grand finale with only 5 finalists taking part in the final competition after several tests and exercises.

The Top 5 finalists were: Alphonso Ashie of Santoku Bar; Patience Laryea of Traphic Lounge; Richard Yeboah of The View Bar; Daniel Sowah of Monsoon Bar and Felix Agyei also of The View Bar.

Mr. Agyei took home with Gh¢2,700, an iPad loaded with exclusive cocktail apps, and the title of Ghana’s First Master Bartender.

"All the hard work and lessons from the MBA programme contributed to my winning. I executed my cocktail based on criteria selected by the judges – personality, the right mix and a clean work area and I am happy it paid off", he said.

"I want to encourage other bartenders to see their work as a profession like any other.  Commit to it, research on it and be humble to learn. I started as a cleaner and later developed a passion for bar tendering. Thanks to the MBA, I have received training that has greatly improved my capability", Mr. Agyei added.

Each of the bartender trainees also received a bar tendering manual, an MBA and Responsible Serving Certificate and an MBA merchandise that includes a special cocktail kit.