Kasapreko Company Limited has become the first indigenous Ghanaian company to be internationally certified, following the company’s attainment of an ISO certification.
At a short ceremony held on Wednesday at the Kasapreko factory off the Spintex Road, , the local beverage manufacturing company was announced as the latest on the African continent to be certified to the ISO 22000:2005 Food Management System.
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Kasapreko was granted the international certification after their food safety management system was subjected to rigorous assessment by auditors from the Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS).
CEO of Kasapreko, Richard Adjei, expressed delight with the company’s international certification, insisting it will help give Kasapreko a bigger global appeal outside the shores of Ghana.
According to him, it will also enhance the quality of Kasapreko’s products, since every beverage they produce must now meet international standards before it can go on the market.
“The ISO certification is giving us an edge in the export market because we (Kasapreko) started exporting to countries like the US, UK, South Africa, Nigeria, Russia [and] and lot of countries outside Ghana,” Mr. Adjei said.
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“We have also started talking to a lot of airline – international airlines as well as local airlines. So this certificate gives them the confidence that every product we are trying to sell to them or sell outside the boarders of Ghana has the same quality standard as any other beverage company in the US or UK.
“So quality-wise we are on the same level with any product on any international flight or any international supermarket.”
The Certification Manager of SGS Ghana Limited, Kwasi Okine Mensah, congratulated Kasapreko Company Limited for their certification to the ISO 22000:2005 Food Management System.
He said it is important that the company is audited in order to ensure that its beverages do not contain any contaminated raw materials, incorrect ingredients or inadequate maintenance.
“The implementation of ISO ISO 22000:2005 FSMS is an attestation that Kasapreko has an effective system in place and is committed to ensuring continual improvement of its FSMS and processes,” Mr. Mensah asserted.
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He added: “Apart from enhancing its image and bringing it a competitive edge in the country and sub region, the certification also reinforces Kasapreko’s willingness and commitment to providing safe and quality products and improving efficiency in line with international standards and best practices.”
Kasapreko’s attainment of an ISO certification means the company’s products can now be sold outside the shores of Ghana, as it meets international standards.
However, the international certification can be revoked if the company fails to comply with the directives of SGS in ensuring that their beverages meet any applicable food safety statutory and regulatory criteria, Mr. Mensah warned.
Kasapreko has been Ghana’s biggest local beverage manufacturer since its establishment in 1989. The company is responsible for the production of beverages such as Alomo Bitters, Alomo Silver, Storm Energy Drink, among others.
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