Kasapreko Company, based in Ghana, has disclosed plans to create more jobs in Nigeria as part of efforts to drive private sector initiatives to enhance economic activities in West Africa.
“With an increase in trade amongst member countries, value will be created, with value being created, revenue would be generated directly as well as indirectly through taxes and levies across the individual member states and the block which can be channelled into the public sector for developmental activities in line with government policy,” Kwabena Adjei, the Group Chairman, said.
He made the disclosure in a paper titled, “The Role of the Private Sector in Regional Integration”, which he delivered at this year’s Accra Weizo held at La Palm Royal Beach Resort, Accra, Ghana.
Adjei solicited more cooperation in West Africa through trade and commerce to create the avenue for the exchange of knowledge, experience and skill acquisition, noting that the region is endowed with a lot of professional and skilled human resources.
“In the area of job creation,” Adjei said, “the more business opportunities we create through regional integration, the more job opportunities we create for citizens across various countries in ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States).
“Let’s take Kasapreko for example, which is a leading beverage company in Ghana and is well celebrated for its popular brands such as the award winning and internationally recognised Alomo Bitters, Kasapreko London Dry Gin, K20 Whisky, Kasapreko Lime cordial, Tonic Wine, just to mention a few.
“The company employs close to 400 people at its head office in Ghana.”
Adjei said these brands will be in the Nigerian market soon, and in anticipation of growth in the number of sales and distributors, the company will double its staff strength in Nigeria.
“Four years ago, we expanded into Nigeria by setting up a country office with a current staff strength of over 40 employees to support our import trade partners in that country for the marketing, sales and distribution of Alomo Bitters and recently Carnival Strawberry, Kalahari Bitters and Alomo Silver.
“We expect to double our staff numbers in Nigeria over the next 12 months. We also have distributors in Burkina-Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Liberia who have also invested in manpower to help run their distribution business.
“Imagine the number of employment opportunities we can create for our people directly and indirectly as we encourage trade amongst ourselves with little or no barriers?
“If Kasapreko has started this in its own very little way, one can imagine the magnitude of impact as the number of West African businesses expanding out of their frontiers will increase!”