Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) has launched its Water Blueprint – a document detailing the business’ strategy towards water resource management.

The launch is part of the companies’ focus on building thriving communities through various means. The launch of the Water Blueprint is the first of its kind by a business in Ghana.

The event which took place at Fiesta Royal hotel in Accra on Tuesday, October 11, 2016, brought together stakeholders in the water resource management industry, researchers and gurus of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Also present was the Director of Water, at the Ministry of Water, Works and Housing and other regulatory bodies.

Corporate Relations Director of GGBL said, Gabriel Opoku-Asare, said as indicated in the recently launched National Corporate Social Responsibility Policy, the focus of any sustainability programme should encompass poverty eradication, employment, sustainable agriculture, health, gender equality, sustainable use and management of natural resources among others.

“Our business’ strategic plan to improve water efficiencies and support efforts to achieve what is set out in the National CSR Policy in relation to water resource management is set out in the Water Blueprint. We will do this through 4 thematic areas; Advocacy, Sustainable Sourcing of Raw Materials, Ensuring Efficient Production and Building thriving Communities.

This is another phase of the sustainability story and we urge stakeholders to join us make it happen as we have done before with the Water of Life programme.’

Cecilia Coonan, Global Communications Manager for Diageo Plc, the parent company of GGBL, reiterated Diageo’s position on water. She said, ‘Water is an essential ingredient of all our brands – 90% of beer and 60% of spirits is water. Water is also essential for growing our raw materials; in the production process and in the manufacture of our packaging; and its efficient management is of the utmost importance for our local communities. Our sustainability and responsibility targets for 2020 focus on the areas that are most material to our business and our main priorities are: building strong communities; environmental performance, particularly water and carbon and promoting the responsible enjoyment of alcohol. These targets fulfill 12 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals including partnerships. The Global Water Blueprint provides more detail on our strategy to support the delivery of the water-related 2020 Sustainability and Responsibility targets.’

Launching the Blueprint, Mr. DonnanTay, Director of Water who represented the, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing added, ‘Ghana is endowed with many water resources but they are at risk of depletion and degradation due to natural and human factors. These includes the wanton depletion of our forest cover, illegal mining, inappropriate solid and liquid waste disposal and other destructive practices which are inimical to a healthy environment required for our well-being. Any strategic approach therefore to managing the water resources, is commendable and welcomed and I am glad the corporate world especially a brewery giant such as GGBL, is taking the bold step in this regard.’