Guinness Ghana Brewery says it is looking to source up to 70 per cent of its raw materials locally to support wealth and job creation for farmers. 

Currently, the company sources 55 per cent of its raw materials which includes maize, sorghum and cassava from some 30,000 local farmers across the country under the company’s Local Raw Material program.

A 2019 study by some researchers contracted by Guinness Ghana conducted in 11 out the 16 regional sourcing areas showed that the company has moved from sourcing 12% of its raw materials locally to 55%.

The brewery through the program is sourcing from over 30,000 local farmers, producing mainly sorghum, maize and cassava.

According to the report, the livelihoods of over 210,000 people along the agricultural value chain have seen a significant improvement, including smallholder farmers, aggregators, processors, input dealers and traders. 

This according to Sylvia Owusu Ankomah, Corporate Relations Director, is to ensure sustainability along the production value chain as well as support governments initiatives such as the Planting for food and jobs and the one district one factory to create wealth for farmers.

She, however, noted, the company is looking to increase the local raw material sourcing to 70 per cent.

Sylvia Owusu Ankomah said, “starting from a place of using just about 12 per cent raw materials in our brands, we are currently at 55 per cent and aiming to get to 70 per cent by 2020”.

“This is a journey that we hope to continue because it does not only impact our production positively but also the lives of the people in the community we work in.”

The Corporate Relations Director further called more policy support from government for local businesses to sustain such initiatives.

Meanwhile, the MD for Guinness Ghana Limited, Gavin Pike, also indicated that the sourcing of materials locally has helped reduce the demand for foreign currencies for importation.