President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is hopeful the packaging of Ghana’s local gin, popularly known as ‘akpeteshie’, can compete globally as a whisky on the international market.
Akufo-Addo was, however, quick to say he could not vouch for the taste and potency of the local gin since he abstained from alcohol several years ago.
Delivering his inaugural speech after being sworn into office, the president noted Ghanaians can now cut down on the importation of fruit juice due to the production of Eku Juice under the ‘One District One Factory’ initiative.
“I doubt that anyone would, ordinarily, mention akpeteshie, the local gin, as a possible item on the world market. I cannot vouch for its taste or potency, since I gave up alcohol many years ago, but I can say that the Made in Ghana and beautifully packaged “Apio”, I have recently seen, can compete in the most sophisticated markets in the world,” he said.
Akufo-Addo added: “In this same vein, I expect the locally produced Eku juice, one of the results of Government’s “One-District-One-Factory” flagship policy, to replace rapidly the imported fruit juices on the shelves of our supermarkets, not because anyone will so decree, but because the quality of the locally produced one is as good, if not superior.”
President Akufo-Addo noted that the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda can be achieved if citizens make good use of the enterprise and ingenuity of the youth.
“We produced, right here in Ghana, our own sanitizers, face masks, medical scrubs, gowns, liquid soap amongst others. We can, indeed, build a Ghana Beyond Aid, if we make full use, as we must, of the enterprise and ingenuity of our people, especially our young people.”
He said Ghana is on the way to becoming the most digitised economy on the continent due to exploits of the youth in the technological space.
“The prominent role being played by young people in the digitization journey of our nation is strong proof of the feasibility of this objective, and Ghana is set to become one of the most digitised economies in Africa in the next few years,” the president stated.
Source: AsaaseRadio
