“Water is a priority for the Coca-Cola system because it is the first ingredient in all our beverages and is essential to the communities we serve.

“The Coca-Cola Company’s 2030 Water Security Strategy focuses on increasing water security. We work with partners to provide access to a steady supply of clean water for people and ecosystems in the areas where we operate and source ingredients,” Ramogase said.

“We do that by contributing toward sustainable, clean water access that improves livelihoods and wellbeing while protecting against water-related disasters.

“Inside our operations, we are committed to regenerative water use. This means using less water as well as re-using and treating wastewater.

“For example, in Kenya we opened a new wastewater treatment plant at our Equator Bottlers plant in Kisumu, which will promote more sustainable water use and help reduce the factory’s environmental impact. The new plant will enable us to treat and recycle wastewater generated from the production facility, which will be used for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and cleaning.

”Our subsidiary, Coca-Cola Beverages Botswana, signed an agreement last year with the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources to donate water from its newly installed water treatment plant for agricultural irrigation at the campus. The new state-of-the-art water treatment plant has made the company fully effluent compliant by ensuring that clean water is returned to the environment.

“For our packaging, we seek to drive a circular economy because this helps to reduce waste and carbon emissions. We’re working to use more recycled content in our packaging, to expand our use of refillable bottles, and to collect packaging for recycling through Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste initiative. We also partner to design new solutions for packaging.

“As an example, Coca-Cola and other like-minded industries came together in 2004 to set up the PET Recycling Company (PETCO) in South Africa to promote and regulate the recycling of PET plastic, taking responsibility for recovering and recycling beverage PET plastic bottles.

“The PETCO model has proven so effective it has been extended to three other markets, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, with plans to include additional countries like Namibia.

“While we strive to make progress on our own, we are committed to fostering partnerships that drive collective impact in areas including water stewardship, packaging circularity, climate action and many more.

“We engage with stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, communities, suppliers, business partners, customers and consumers in all the markets where we operate, in many forums and formats. Feedback from our stakeholders allows us to learn and improve, and informs our business and sustainability strategy,” Ramogase said.

ENDS

Under the theme “Inspiring Excellence in Ghana’s Beverage Industry”, the event celebrated the beverage industry and its stakeholders for contributing significantly to the Ghanaian economy.

The award recognizes excellence in Ghana’s beverage industry while providing an avenue for stakeholders and key players in the industry to network and deliberate on issues relating to its advancement.

In another endorsement of the company’s industry leadership in Ghana, Voltic (GH) Limited’s Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Manager, Worlasi Seddoh Bedu-Mensah, has been invited to serve as a Subject Matter Expert in Sustainability by the country’s Chartered Institute of Supply Chain Management.

Voltic Natural Mineral Water is sourced from a natural aquifer over 60 meters underground, which contains essential natural minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium, Bicarbonate, Nitrate, Sulphate, Potassium and Iron.

Last year Voltic (GH) Limited launched its Voltic Premium Brand, with a 750ml premium bottle in a new sleek design featuring a distinct royal blue label and the new golden Voltic logo boldly embossed on it.

A product of Voltic (GH) Limited, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, the new premium water comes in a range of sizes including 500ml, 750ml, 1.5L and 19.5L.

The water is bottled at the source at water processing plants located in Medie and Akwadum in the Greater Accra and Eastern regions.

Staff from Voltic (GH) Limited, members of the University of Ghana Plastic Recycling Project and the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly team joined forces to collect PET bottles for disposal by Beach Cleanup Ghana – a cleantech organisation that uses smart technology to help restore cleanliness to beaches in Ghana.

The cleanup was the second this year involving the same partners in a bid to remove plastic waste affecting the beach and lagoon.

“The interconnected global challenges of packaging waste and climate change have made this a focus for our business and communities. The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners are taking a hard look at the packaging we use and how we can drive change,” said Worlasi Seddoh Bedu Mensah, Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Manager at Voltic (GH) Limited, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa.

“Our sustainable packaging strategy aims to create systemic change through a circular economy for our packaging – from how bottles are designed and manufactured, to how they’re recycled and reused.

“We have a responsibility to help solve the global plastic waste crisis, and we’re leveraging our scale and reach across markets to achieve our sustainability goals and reduce waste pollution.

“We can’t do it alone. We work with stakeholders, nonprofits, communities, governments and our industry toward a clean environment,” said Mensah.

“We are working in our communities to educate people on why and how to recycle through collection campaigns, on-package messaging and more to create a more sustainable environment for all.

“Tackling the global plastic waste crisis requires cross-sector collaboration and alignment on common principles and targets.

“We work with a range of stakeholders at a regional and local level. This includes partnering with governments and community organisations to strengthen recycling infrastructure and boost collection rates, collaborating with customers, peers and industry associations to shape public policy that supports a circular economy; and teaming up with suppliers, startups and R&D partners to fuel sustainable packaging innovation,” Mensah said.

ENDS

The two communities have been struggling to secure an adequate water supply as existing boreholes were not sustainable, but now have an additional daily capacity of 20,000 litres each, contributing to improved water security.

The handover ceremony was attended by Nana Kobina Anobi X, Chief of the Asuansi community, Emintsinminim Otu XI, Paramount Chief of Abora State, Ishmael Arthur, Principal of Asuansi School, Esi Sekyeraa Obeng, Headmistress of Abakrampa School, Willeyeven Obiri Awuah, DCE Abora Asebu Kwamankasi District and Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Minister of Education.

Flora Jika, MD of Voltic, which is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, said the company was a leader in using water responsibly in its operations and giving it back.

“We continue to manage water resources through projects that reduce water use in our operations, protect local water resources and provide safe, clean drinking water to communities in need,” Jika said.

“We focus our attention and resources on enhancing water management that helps our business, supply chain and local communities build resilience to a changing climate.”

“Across all our facilities, we conduct thorough assessments of local water resources and put water protection plans in place, so our presence doesn’t harm communities’ vital water resources.”

“Because people need water to thrive, we support local water access projects that help bring safe, clean drinking water to communities in need,” Jika added.

The Summit was organized by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advisory Unit of the Office of the President, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ghana, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It aimed to mobilize transformative actions to sustainably manage the ocean towards the achievement of the SDGs.

Speaking at the opening of the summit, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo pledged Ghana’s commitment to ensuring sustainable ocean management and called for a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to SDG 14 to protect life below water.

President Akufo-Addo proposed five agenda points for sustainable ocean management, including robust regulations, strategic partnerships, smart investments, research and innovation, and international collaboration.

Participating in a panel discussion at the summit, Jika said: “It is our responsibility to safeguard the ocean and as a business, we have a commitment to collect for recycling 100% of what we sell by 2030.”

As a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), Voltic is a proud industry leader in developing increasingly sustainable ways to manufacture, distribute and sell its products.

Food and beverage packaging is an important part of our modern lives, yet the world has a packaging problem, which Voltic, together with The Coca-Cola Company, has a responsibility to help solve.

The company’s commitment is to invest in its packaging, to help make the world’s packaging problem a thing of the past, working in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company which launched a sustainable packaging initiative called World Without Waste in 2018.

Across the markets where it operates, CCBA has committed to help collect a bottle for every one it sells by 2030, make all of its packaging 100% recyclable by 2025 and make 25% of its packaging reusable by 2030

This is the second year in a row that Hollandia Yoghurt has been awarded Dairy Product of the Year and an impressive win on debut for Hollandia Choco Malt, which Voltic, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), launched only last year.

Hollandia Yoghurt is a tasty, nourishing yoghurt drink that combines the goodness of yoghurt with the vitamins of fruit. It has a great smooth taste and comes in six nutritious variants, all in handy packs.

Hollandia Choco Malt Drink is a ready-to-drink, 3-in-1 product fortified with the goodness of milk, energy-giving classic malt, and a rich chocolate taste. Hollandia Choco Malt comes in handy pack sizes which contain an adequate quantity for individual consumption, as well as fitting into the lifestyle of both children and adults.

“People everywhere want new beverages and experiences throughout their day and, as the largest franchised bottler of The Coca-Cola Company in Africa, CCBA is innovating to give people more of what they want while actively encouraging informed choices and balanced lifestyles,” said Voltic Managing Director, Flora Jika.

“In some cases, that means adding vitamins and minerals or rethinking our recipes to reduce sugar while keeping the great tastes people love. In others, it means finding more sophisticated, exciting flavours.

“Across the markets we serve, CCBA is also focused on different beverages like tea, coffee, value-added dairy, juices, traditional drinks, sparkling water and hard seltzers — to name just a few,” said Jika.

“Hollandia Yoghurt and Hollandia Choco Malt Drink add to our growing range of beverages for every taste.

“It is because of the support from the communities and the government that we have been able to create local sourcing opportunities through the production of the Hollandia range of products in Ghana. We have also been able to create inclusive growth opportunities, a cause CCBA is committed to,” Jika said.

“We are delighted by the recognition of these consumer favourites at the Ghana Beverage Awards.”

Voltic Natural Mineral Water has been the go-to bottled water brand for many Ghanaians for over 25 years and has become a household name and part of Ghana’s rich cultural heritage. The “Own Your Richness” campaign seeks to highlight and celebrate the diverse rich Ghanaian culture through a series of customer and consumer engagements activities.

Speaking at the launch event, Seshnee Naidoo, Coca-Cola’s Franchise Director for the Equatorial Africa Region said, “We are very proud to be associated with Ghana and the country’s rich and diverse culture. The new brand identity for Voltic emphasizes our commitment to refresh our consumers, while encouraging them to embrace their own unique richness.”

She added that as industry leaders, Coca-Cola, and its bottling partner, Voltic (GH) Limited, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) want everyone to be proud of the standard and quality of bottled water coming out of Ghana and hope to achieve this through the new brand campaign.

She also reiterated Coca-Cola system’s sustainability commitment to continue supporting the marginalized communities with water replenishment programs for example installing of mechanized boreholes in regions where they are mostly required.

On her part, the Managing Director of Voltic (GH) Limited, Flora Jika, said that Voltic is proudly produced in Ghana under the highest quality standards and the company’s over 20 years of existence in the market goes to prove the brand’s consistency in upholding good standards.”

“Through this Campaign, we hope to position ourselves firmly across all market segments and niche while giving our cherished consumers that premium experience they deserve and also fulfilling CCBA’s commitment to refreshing Africa every day and making the continent a better place for all.” She added.

The Voltic Own Your Richness Premium Campaign will engage popular Ghanaian celebrities like, Afua Rida, David Dontor, Akumaa Mama Zimbi among others to lead the campaign as influencers across diverse platforms.

The new Voltic Natural Mineral Water in premium bottles will be available in all retail outlets as well as Voltic and Coca-Cola distributors across the country starting in April.

“In an age of increasing digitalization, climate change concerns and health crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the critical importance of scientific and technological capacity is more evident than ever,” according to a World Bank article on the subject.

“Individuals with advanced skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are crucial to push us to new frontiers as well as tackle urgent challenges. However, the potential of one group has been consistently under-harnessed in this regard: women.”

The authors say only 30% of science professionals in sub-Saharan Africa are women. Research has shown several factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women in STEM – negative stereotypes about girls’ and women’s capability in STEM fields, discrimination against women in the classroom and workplace and traditional gender roles that place the burden of domestic responsibilities disproportionately on the shoulders of women, leaving them less time to work in labs, attend conferences and build networks.

Removing these barriers is an essential step towards closing the gender gap and giving women an equal chance at succeeding in STEM.

CCBA’s Managing Director of Voltic (GH) Ltd, Flora Jika, said CCBA was committed to playing its part in promoting the advancement of women in the sciences.

“Because women are integral to our continent’s shared success, we seek to empower women and girls throughout our markets on the continent,” Jika said.

“Our aim is to create greater shared opportunity for the business and the communities we serve across the value-chain. Opportunity is more than just money, it’s about a better future for people and their communities everywhere on the African continent.”

In Ghana, Voltic (GH) Limited has partnered with the Girls Excellence Movement (GEM) to increase impact in the lives of women and children in the communities where it operates. GEM is a team of dynamic Ghanaian, Nigerian, Tanzanian, American and British young professional volunteers who devote their skills, time, and other resources to delivering carefully curated capacity building programmes for girls.

GEM’s vision is to inspire, educate, mentor, and inform girls to help them become change leaders. It develops girls into excellent, independent, confident, well informed, and fearless women who are able and willing to take on leadership in all spheres of life, particularly careers in the STEM fields.

Under the partnership, GEM and Voltic organized their first Inspiration-On-Wheels outreach to Comboni Technical Vocational Institute (COMBOTECH) at Sogakope in the Volta Region of Ghana in 2022.

Discussions during the session covered various topics, including menstrual health and their rights online, STEM subjects and careers, sexual assault awareness and how to effectively engage with the team of mentors. The girls were also given free sanitary pads and mathematical sets.

Voltic has also partnered with the non-profit organization Girls in Science and Technology (GIST).

GIST’s mission aligns with Voltic’s passion for women and youth empowerment, providing them with the mentorship and coaching they need for a successful and impactful STEM career, and exposing them to opportunities in the STEM industry.

Voltic supports GIST with internship opportunities for female STEM students who fit in the company’s operations. Voltic also partners with GIST to organize empowerment campaign programmes for girls in secondary and tertiary institutions in Ghana.

In 2022, GIST also launched the GIST-UMaT Chapter in Takoradi. The aim was to promote the participation of young females in STEM, to increase their interest in the career opportunities available to them. This chapter seeks to create a community where the girls have blueprint role models to look up to. It will also expose them to internship opportunities to give them the head start they need for a successful STEM career.

Referring to the successes of CCBA’s women empowerment programmes, Jika said: “By investing in women’s economic empowerment, we have created shared value in hopes of a better shared future – enabling improved livelihoods for women, their families, and their communities, while inclusively expanding our business.

“Our aim is to boost income, provide decent earning potential and improve skills and business knowledge for women, resulting in them accessing other opportunities.”

Hollandia Choco Malt Drink is a satisfying and functional 3-in-1 beverage that provides all the goodness of milk, rich chocolate, and energy-giving malt in a ready-to-drink format for consumers.

It eliminates the inconvenience of preparing chocolate-based beverages and comes in handy pack sizes which contain an adequate quantity for individual consumption, as well as fitting into the lifestyle of both youth and adults.

“People everywhere want new beverages and experiences throughout their day and, as the largest franchised bottler of The Coca-Cola Company in Africa, CCBA is innovating to give people more of what they want while actively encouraging informed choices and balanced lifestyles,” said Voltic Managing Director, Flora Jika.

“In some cases, that means adding vitamins and minerals or rethinking our recipes to reduce sugar while keeping the great tastes people love. In others, it means finding more sophisticated, exciting flavours.”

“Across the markets we serve, CCBA is also focused on different beverages like tea, coffee, value-added dairy, juices, traditional drinks, sparkling water and hard seltzers — to name just a few,” said Jika.

“Hollandia Choco Malt Drink adds to our growing range of beverages for every taste.”

“It is because of the support from the communities and the government that we have been able to create local sourcing opportunities through the production of our products in Ghana. We have also been able to create inclusive growth opportunities for all, a cause CCBA is committed to,” Jika said.

The event at the company’s Akwadum plant was attended by Sub Chief of Nsawam Adoagyiri, Abakomahene Odiatuo Katakyie Afrifa, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi, Assembly Member of Mmofra Nfadwene, Alfred Aquaye Jnr, CEO of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Seth Twum-Akwaboah and Assistant Chief Director of Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly, Godwin Fiamo Wedu.

Mr. Michael Okyere Baafi said Voltic (GH) Limited had contributed to the development of Ghana over the years and changed the beverage sector with continuous innovations.

“Ghana’s policy of innovation has come to stay and that is why the Ministry of Trade and Industry is proud to endorse the Hollandia Choco Malt Drink.

“We assure Voltic that the Ministry is committed to helping the business reach its highest level of success,” said the Deputy Minister.