The additional categories consist of international wine of the year, international beer of the year, international spirit of the year and new beverage of the year.

On the theme, 'Drink Ghana, inspiring excellence in Ghana’s Beverage industry,' this year’s event is expected to promote the local beverages industry with the focus on encouraging the interest of Ghanaians in indigenous produce.

It is an initiative of the Global Media Alliance (GMA) with support from Food Research Institute (FRI) under the CSIR, the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana.

Be innovative

The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, at the event to launch the awards scheme on February 1 in Accra expressed the readiness of her ministry to support activities that promoted the name of Ghana on the global market.

"This awards scheme deserves the much needed support because it is doing everything possible to celebrate the local beverage industry.

"About a year ago, my ministry came up with a policy to encourage Ghanaians to use local products as a way of promoting domestic tourism," she said.

According to her, the introduction of this ‘Drink Ghana’ edition of the awards scheme complements the ministry's quest to encourage Ghanaian made produce for economic growth.

She, however, called for beverage manufacturers to come up with innovative ways in which more traditional Ghanaian beverages could be well packaged, branded and sold Internationally.

“We need to take our very best out of Ghana and share with the world what we enjoy most.”

Focus this year

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GMA, Mr Ernest Boateng, said this year’s GBA was keen to promote the efforts of the small and medium beverage enterprises in the country.

"We are looking at a future where indigenous beverages get the needed visibility or exposure they need to appeal to both the local and foreign market.”