Guinness supports bar operators with GH¢10m

Guinness Ghana has earmarked GH¢10 million as support package to cushion bar owners and beverage distributors from the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The package, which is a continuation of an ongoing promotion ‘Yεn Nyin Mbom’ introduced last year, is targeting 1,500 retail and whole distributors of Guinness products across the country.

The financial support is to enable beneficiaries to receive cash prizes to enhance their operations, install personal protective equipment (PPEs) at their bars, fridges, microwaves, free drinks, DSTV installation and educational posters to drive adherence to safety protocols among others to keep themselves as well as consumers safe.

At an event to announce the financial package in Accra, the Commercial Director of Guinness Ghana, Mr Obinna Anyabelechi, said the initiative was aimed at giving back to trade partners and customers, to add value to their businesses as they transition from the impact of the raging COVID-19.

“We are always being challenged to find innovative ways to support our customers in their business journey.

“Last year, we launched the Yεn Nyin Mbom loyalty programme which was a great success, as we saw many of our trade partners receive rewards that have gone a long way to improve their businesses and customer base,” he said.

Boosting profitability

The Commercial Director observed that the GH¢10 million support package meant for trade partners was to help them get back on their feet and boost profitability.

“This year, as we all hoped to eat the fruits of our labour, we were hit with the global health pandemic COVID-19, and life as we all know it, came to a standstill.

“Many businesses closed down for not one or two, but three to four months.

“The impact this has had on our customers cannot be overlooked and it is for this reason we are introducing the package to assure our partners that we are with them and ready to help them rise up, as they bounce back from the effects of COVID-19,” he added.

Collaborations

The Manager in-charge of Standards, Quality and Assurance of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr Alex Boakye, said businesses within the tourism space needed to collaborate with the government to develop plans that could mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic.

This, he said, was necessary because the tourism sector was one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy and the sector that could potentially employ 125,000 people directly and a further 313, 000 indirectly.

“No matter how small, the tourism sector plays an important part in providing employment to raise living standards.

“I am very optimistic that the campaign introduced by Guinness Ghana will be pivotal in improving our tourist sites and bar businesses which will further integrate into our national economy,” he stated.

Appreciation

An Advisor of the National Drinking Bar Operators Association, Ms Charity Nyarko-Boadu, commended Guinness Ghana for the continued support to distributors of its products.

She said the GH¢10 million support package committed under the ongoing promotion will enable bar owners to get back in business after the pandemic negatively affected them.

“Restrictions on human movement coupled with the closure of drinking bars negatively affected our businesses,” she added.