The Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Dela Sowah has commenced Unilever Ghana Limited for its innovative approach to meeting the basic needs of Ghanaians.

Mrs Sowah was speaking at the launch of the reformulated Geisha Soap in Accra over the weekend.

“I have no doubt that the new Geisha will meet the needs of Ghanaian consumers and also stimulate more of such innovations from Unilever in the coming years,” she added.

She awarded the Unilever marketing team an A+ mark for the efforts they put in coming out with the product and its launch. She said as a former marketer she thought they did very well.

In her welcome address, the Brand Building Director at Unilever Ghana, Ms Nana Yaa Kissi noted that “Unilever’s creative team does not only aim to generate products that make people look and feel good, but also help them to get more out of life with the variety of brands and services that are good for them.”

Said that in coming out with the new Geisha Soap they engaged customers extensively to get their view on “what they wanted out of Geisha and they told us. The new Geisha is therefore borne out of collaborative effort and a long lasting relationship with our customers.”

The new Geisha Soap that was launched has been reformulated with honey and other natural extracts which serve to harden the soap in a manner that makes it last longer regardless of the number of users as it does not easily melt in water.

According to the Category Manager for Personal Care at Unilever, Ms Esther Fobri, the soap comes in five variants and colours: Green – Aloe Vera and Honey, Beige – Shea Butter and Honey, White – Coconut Milk and Honey, Pink – Rose and Honey and Yellow – Lemon and Honey.

Ms Fobri said Unilever takes time to find out what their consumers need so they can provide them. “We conduct research in every market we serve. We conduct research both in respect of the needs of our customers and also on the various ingredients that can be used to meet these needs.”

She emphasized the value that families that use the new Geisha Soap would derive from its use. “Our longer lasting promise builds on our affordability by giving more to the Ghanaian mom for the limited resources. The savings that come from the longer lasting quality will mean that scarce resources of families become available for other pressing needs,” she assured Ghanaians.

Two of Ghana’s leading female musicians Akosua Agyapong and Gifty Osei performed to the audience during the launch programme at the Event Haven of the Trade Fair Site.

Akosua went into her repertoire to perform some of the popular songs that she has been known for over the years, including Frema, Eka Bi Nie and Meye Obaa. Her well-choreographed dance moves which she delivered with assistance from her two backers were well appreciated by the audience.

Gifty Osei who was wearing a long flowing gown with beautifully done braids to match, also performed some of her popular songs and managed to get the audience to sing and dance along with her.

She also urged the audience, which was dominated by women and women groups including queen mothers from the Ghana traditional council, to make Geisha the soap of choice for their families, while commending Unilever for producing such a soap that has been a part of many families for a long time. 

The Deputy Minister joined Nana Yaa Kissi and Esther Fobri to officially launch the new and reformulated Geisha Soap.

The occasion was used to reward four women who had called into radio shows in the preceding weeks to say very beautiful things about their mothers and why they cherish them so much.

Safoa Appietu Ankrah, Beatrice Ocran, Vivian Adjei and Adwoa Prah Aboagye took home a painting of themselves and their mothers as well as a hamper of goodies from Unilever Ghana respectively.