Guinness Ghana urges private sector participation in SDGS

Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), Ghana’s only total beverage business, has at a ceremony, presented to stakeholders its role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The event, put together by Center for CSR West Africa, is deliberating what the SDGs mean for Ghana, the key actors and their role in achieving the goals.

Speaking at the event, Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, the Communications and Engagement Manager - GGBL, said: “GGBL features in 11 of the 17 SDGs through our three thematic areas. These include building thriving communities and reducing our environmental impact.”

“We have maintained our zero waste to landfill target, continuously recovered carbon dioxide from our production process and encouraged a segregation culture among employees.

“Our traditional CSR programmes have, however, been in the areas of provision of access to clean drinking water to vulnerable communities and our local raw material initiative.”

She said the rippling impact of their CSR programmes in supporting the agriculture value chain and socio-economic developments of the communities was encouraging.

“This wide-ranging impact affects various targets of the SDGs,” she stated.

Dr Pearl Darko, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) National Coordinator, SDG and Philanthropy, highlighted the role of the international body and their expectations of corporate organisations.

She said: “Governments cannot achieve the SDG’s alone. Private sector and philanthropists come with innovation, partnership and development. It makes good business sense to impact the bottom-line through sustainable prorgammes that affect the planet, people and profit.”

“We, however, need a holistic mapping of all companies involved in strategic philanthropy to know what everybody is doing in terms of the SDGs. It all starts with us.”

Other members from the academia and international partner agencies also discussed their roles and how to move the SDGs in a more pragmatic way.

Mr Kodjo Williams, the Head of the Centre for CSR West Africa, lauded the efforts of GGBL and other corporate bodies for their involvement in the achievement of the SDGs.

He encouraged the companies to participate in the CSR awards with the wins they had achieved.

He said their successes would give them the desired recognition across the country.