Guinness Ghana crowns Shaka Zulu staff as Ghana’s Master Bartender


Anthony Ahiave, a bartender from Shaka Zulu Bar at Roman Ridge was adjudged the Master Bartender by a team of distinguished Judges at the Master Bar Academy (MBA) 303 event.

The event was held at the Mensvic Grand Hotel on Wednesday 18 June 2014.

It was organised by Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), the second of such events this year.

The MBA programme is designed to develop the capabilities of promising bartenders across the country.

The MBA is Africa’s largest bartending programme run by Diageo, parent company of GGBL.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Agnes Emefa Essah, Marketing Director, GGBL said ‘the objective of the MBA programme is to build capacity and to unlock the potential of bartenders across the country.

‘Today’s event is the second we are running this year to celebrate Ghana’s top bartender.  To be recognised as the Master Bartender, you need to demonstrate to the judges that you’ve got what it takes – the knowledge, flair and deep understanding in the art of making world class cocktails, excellent customer service and a winning attitude. Anthony Ahiave came tops among 20 bartenders’.

The entire MBA programme has three modules – MBA 101 is a workshop that provides training on customer services, bartender’s secrets and responsible serving.

Each of the bartender trainees leave the workshop with a manual and a 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 has 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’.

The Shaka Zulu Bartender took home GHC 3,000 cash prize, an iPad loaded with exclusive cocktail apps, and the title of Master Bartender – Ghana.

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