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. Donnan Tay, 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.