Anthony Ahiave (middle) with Agnes Emefa Essah, Marketing Director (left), Mark Barrett, Spirit Capability Manager for Africa (right), Solomon Affum, Spirit Category Manager (2nd left) and other top finalists of the competition.
Anthony Ahiave, a bartender from Shaka Zulu Bar, Roman Ridge, was adjudged master bartender by a team of distinguished judges at the Master Bar Academy (MBA) 303 event held at the Mensvic Grand Hotel on Wednesday.
The exclusive event, the second edition for this year, was organised by Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL).
It saw 20 contestants vying for the ultimate prize.
The MBA is Africa’s largest bartending programme run by Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business and parent company of GGBL.
Agnes Emefa Essah, Marketing Director, GGBL, explained that ‘the objective of the MBA programme is to build capacity and unlock the potential of bartenders across the country.
The entire MBA programme has three modules – MBA 101, a workshop that provides training on customer services, bartender’s secrets and responsible serving.
Each of the bartender trainees leaves the workshop with a manual and link to a mobi-site to complete the second module – MBA 202.
Once completed, only the highest scoring bartenders are selected to go through to MBA 303, which is the last module.
The 303 module consists of a full day of training where after several tests the final five are chosen.
The final five complete a live showdown in front of an audience where one bartender is adjudged the Master Bartender.
All the MBA 303 finalists receive an MBA certificate together with exclusive MBA merchandise that includes a special cocktail kit.
An elated Ahiave said: ‘It’s been an intense and highly competitive journey for me. I am very excited my hard work and dedication have paid off. The MBA programme has been a big eye opener for me. My knowledge around cocktails, customer service and promoting responsible drinking has greatly improved and I can’t wait to channel this into better serving my clientele.’
Ahiave took home GH¢3,000 cash prize, an iPad loaded with exclusive cocktail apps, and the title of Master Bartender – Ghana.
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