A market-leading food, feed and fibre agri-business, Olam Agri Ghana, has held its second edition of the Grain Hygiene Standards Management (GHSM) Awards Programme.

The ceremony, which was held last Friday, was to acknowledge and reward bakeries and individual bakers for their exceptional performance in pursuing hygiene standards in their operations.

Launched in July 2023, the GHSM programme, which was held in collaboration with Twentyth Consult, a Sales, Marketing, and Food Safety Consortium, is dedicated to promoting adherence to high hygiene standards among bakers in Ghana.

Over 200 bakeries, a significant increase from the 171 awarded at the maiden edition, were selected and honoured.

The increase in the number of awardees reflects the remarkable progress made by bakers in implementing and maintaining robust hygiene practices. It is also a testament to the positive impact of the GHSM programme.

Bakeries that won honours in the Four Star and Three Star categories were rewarded with a range of valuable prizes, as incentives for sustained or better performance.

The second edition took place at the company’s wheat mill facility in Kpone near Tema, and it brought together bakers from across the country, industry leaders, and stakeholders.

It was graced by the attendance of distinguished guests, from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, and Ghana TVET services.

As part of the event, participants of the programme underwent intense training and evaluation processes based on 10 pillars and bakers who demonstrated commitment to improving their operations were rewarded and spotlighted by Olam Agri. 

Commitment to standards

In his address at the event, the Vice-President and Business Head of Olam Agri’s Grains Business, Soumya Saxena, stressed the company’s commitment to empowering the local bakery industry to maintain the highest safety and hygiene standards.

He said by recognising and rewarding excellence in hygiene, the company was playing a pivotal role in ensuring that Ghanaian consumers enjoy safe, high-quality and delicious bakery products.

"Olam Agri, one of the largest wheat millers in Africa, is committed to empowering the local bakery industry to ensure that safety and hygiene standards are kept.

With this programme, we aim to enhance the competitiveness of Ghanaian bakeries, broaden their market access, and ultimately strengthen consumer confidence in Ghanaian-made bakery products. 

“The Grain Hygiene Standards Management Awards exemplify our commitment to supporting the growth and development of the Ghanaian bakery industry,” Soumya added.

Public health and safety

The Director of the Industrial Support Services Directorate of the FDA, Kofi Essel, congratulated Olam Agri on ensuring hygiene standards in the industry, emphasising that the safety and quality of products sold to the public were paramount.

“Consumers entrust us with their health and well-being and it is our duty to uphold this through stringent adherence to safety standards.

“The implementation of this programme (GHSM) is a requirement for the fundamental aspect of our commitment to public health and safety,” Mr Essel stressed.