Total beverage company, Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd (GGBL), has launched a spirits training programme the Master Bar Academy (MBA). The company markets and distributes some of the world’s favourite spirits brands including Johnnie Walker Whisky, Baileys Irish Cream, Smirnoff Vodka, Gordon’s Gin, Captain Morgan Rum and Jose Cuervo Tequila. The Master Bar Academy programme features a mobile technology training tool to excite and engage bar-staff across Ghana. Unveiling the exciting programme, Mark Barrett, Spirits Capability Manager for Diageo Plc (GGBL’s parent company) noted that as the leading spirits company in the world Diageo has a passion for making sure its drinks are served perfectly every time. “We want to raise the bar behind the bar- as a company we have committed to training 10,000 bartenders across Africa within the next year and Ghana will be one of the lead markets”. He said consumers across Ghana can now look forward to world-class standards of service and will soon question whether their bartenders have an MBA. Last Friday, 4th May, the Smirnoff brand hosted Ghanaians to an exclusive invitational ‘One night in NYC’ at the Accra International Conference Centre, sponsored by Smirnoff. Patrons were treated to a Smirnoff experience with the best DJ mixes, unforgettable artistes’ performance and the unique opportunity to interact with the brand’s global ambassador Kenji Jesse. The MBA program follows training provided by GGBL in 2011 to 350 premium bar managers, senior waiters and waitresses in the Greater Accra, Western and Ashanti regions through its World of Spirits program to make the consumer experience excitable and memorable as well as to engineer responsible use and consumption of alcohol. The MBA program was officially opened by the Ag. Sales Director of GGBL, Mr. Joe Acquah at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra.