Following the outbreak of COVID-19 globally, the planning committee for the Ghana Beverage Awards (GBA) has officially announced that GBA 2019 will be held virtually and streamed on TV and online on June 13, 2020.
The beverage awards, which is in its fourth year, closed nominations to the general public and all beverage companies in February this year. Under the theme ‘Inspiring Excellence in Ghana’s Beverage Industry’, the awards aim to promote both local and foreign beverages as well as the participation of small-scale beverage enterprises in Ghana.
Speaking on the new adjustments, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Media Alliance (GMA), Ernest Boateng, explained the new development.
“We have all been advised by the president to adhere to all the social distancing protocols and other directives which will help us to control the spread of COVID-19. As an organisation, we have found a way to go ahead and celebrate excellence in the beverage industry while adhering to all the recommended directives without endangering lives; this is why we have decided to organise the awards virtually,” he explained.
“The virtual awards will maintain the world-class standard our patrons and stakeholders are used to, without losing the prominence and prestige associated with it,” he reassured.
The general public was allowed to vote for the ultimate award of the year, which is the Product of the Year, between March 2 and March 20, 2020.
In the lead-up to this year’s awards, a beverage Industry Tour was organised for the GBA board to visit nominated companies and be familiarised with their work and practices. This initiative is one of the new activities which were introduced in the build-up to the 2019 Awards Night.
This year, GBA has introduced two new categories – Local Beverage Advertisement of the Year and International Liqueur of the Year. The addition of new categories is to acknowledge feedback from stakeholders, particularly consumers who have been instrumental in the nominations phase. The Local Beverage Advert of the Year award goes to the brand in the year under review that is enjoying massive public appeal with its creative publicity.
The Ghana Beverage Awards is organised by Global Media Alliance. Supporting partners are the Food Research Institute (FRI) under CSIR, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Consumer Protection Agency and the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG).
