The Ghana@50 Secretariat has designated Coca-Cola Ghana, as the “Official Soft Drinks Sponsor” of Ghana’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations. This is in recognition of the company’s extensive and comprehensive sponsorship package offered to support Ghana’s 50th independence anniversary celebration.
The sponsorship package, valued at 3.7 billion cedis, is structured to boost the Ghana@50 Secretariat, refresh the nation and guests during the celebrations and support specific greening, educational and the legacy projects and initiatives.
Mr Philippe Ayivor, the Franchise Director of the Nigeria and Equatorial Africa Division (NEAD), Coca-Cola Africa, and Mr Segun Ogunsanya, the Chief Operating Officer of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Limited (TCCBCGL), presented the sponsorship package to the nation on behalf of the company.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr. Philippe Ayivor said the package is in fulfillment of a commitment Mr. Alex Cummings, the President of Coca-Cola Africa, made when he called on President Kufuor in 2006.
Mr. Ayivor explained that Coca-Cola, “shares a special bond with Ghana, and would continue to support, and celebrate Ghana’s growth and development”.
The package includes, among others, specific support for the greening initiative and selected community and educational programmes, 50,000 dollars cash donation and 7,500 cases of free Coca-Cola products.
For his part, Mr Ogunsanya recounted the progress Coca-Cola has made over the past 51 years, and attributed it in large part to the support received from the government and people of Ghana.
“Supporting Ghana’s 50th birthday comes very natural to us in the Coca-Cola family, given that the company was introduced into the country just about the same time Ghana was born,” Mr Ogunsanya said.
“More critically, the success of Ghana is our success. We are proud of the country and very much believe in the future of Ghana,” Mr Ogunsanya added.
The country, he said, had been a fertile ground for the company, saying “We will continue to provide quality refreshment for the good people of Ghana.”
Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State, Office of the President, who is also a member of the Ghana@50 Planning Committee, received the donation.
She thanked the company for the support, saying the Secretariat had expected just that from it because it had been the country’s long-standing partner.
“We as a country will continue to create the enabling environment for businesses to operate and it is only good that businesses also respond to such a worthy cause,” she said.
