GHANA – Unilever Ghana has said that it has invested more than US$12.27 million (GH¢60 million) in new infrastructure and factory plants over the last two years, cementing its leadership position in the country’s consumer goods segment, reports GNA.
The investment has seen the multinational company commission new personal care dryer plant, Biomass Boiler plant and Orals factory as it seeks to augment its operations in delivering quality and efficient services to customers.
Speaking during the commissioning of the plants, Mrs Gladys Amoah, the Managing Director of Unilever Ghana said that the Biomass Boiler is aimed at eliminating totally the use of Residual Fuel Oil or diesel as fuel for factory operations.
The effluent treatment plant, she explained, is designed to utilise palm kernel shells as fuel and has a capacity to generate eight tons of steam per hour.
Mrs Gladys also said the Oral Factory, would increase the company’s response rate to the high demand and position the business to effectively harness the growing opportunities in the market.
According to Gladys, the company was largely dependent on imports to service its orals business, which comprised the entire Oral Stock Keeping unit of Pepsodent Cavity Fighter and Close-up Deep Action.
“The new Oral Factory will on-shore a reactive capacity of 40 per cent orals volumes, especially for Pepsodent and Close-up products to reduce dependence on imports from other countries,” she said.
Mrs Amoah said that the Personal Care Dryer will immensely support operations at the continuous saponification plant with the facility having a capacity of six Tonnage Per Hour.
At this capacity, the plant is expected to produce enough toilet soap noodles to service demand from the West African sub-region.
Gladys added that the investment will translate into creation of more employment opportunities for local suppliers and local workforce in the country.
“We are currently sourcing over 90 per cent of our packaging materials from Ghana and have less to 400 staff, directly in our employment, with about 62,000 indirectly employed including retail, wholesale and market sellers for their livelihood”, she added.
President Akufo-Addo, during the commissioning commended Unilever Ghana for its commitment in enhancing sustainable operation and its initiative in job opportunity and revenue mobilisation.
“Unilever for its continued presence in, and partnership with Ghana, which spans nearly a century, and had proved to be largely beneficial for the stakeholders.
Mrs Amoah said Unilever Sustainable Living Plan enjoins the company to work towards improving the health and hygiene needs of people, reduce the environmental impact of its activities and enhance the livelihood of people.
The Managing Director said the company had embarked campaigns to improve the health, hygiene and well-being of customers through its products and has benefited more than4.4 million people as at the end of 2018
She said the company would continue with its effort at ensuring a state-of-the-art factory to guarantee quality products.
