Jones Borteye Applerh is the CEO of GIHOC
Jones Borteye Applerh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation (GIHOC), has called for the urgent revitalisation of the facility, declaring that “GIHOC must rise again”.
He said GIHOC had struggled in recent years with crippling debt, outdated equipment, stalled production, and a shrinking market presence, hence the need for urgent revitalisation.
At a press conference and a tour of the company’s production facility in Accra, Applerh highlighted numerous challenges the company had faced in the past few years.
He said that various machines used at the facility needed to be modernised, as some dated back to 1964 and were running at less than 40 per cent efficiency.
The CEO stated that the company’s debts exceeded GH¢427 million, which included unpaid taxes to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), loans, pension arrears, obligations to suppliers, and those to MASLOC.
“Lack of raw materials stalled production for months, with our flagship brands nearly vanishing from the shelves. We have lost a considerable market share,” he stressed.
Applerh said for the past five months, 2.6 million bottles had been procured, and that they had reversed the “No bottle return scheme” of the previous management.
Additionally, the ethanol crisis had been resolved through the kind benevolence of a traditional ethanol supplier of GIHOC, and the public was assured that production was back on track.
Applerh also explained that ageing faulty equipment had been repaired, with internal controls tightened to ensure that GIHOC regained its visibility in Ghana, especially in major cities like Accra and Kumasi.
“The G Tot line, which produces our sachet products, is all fully operational, and we are poised for the charge given by the President under the 24-hour economy Policy,” he added.
Outlining a comprehensive roadmap to restore GIHOC’s stature, the CEO said that within the short term, they would focus on stabilisation through full audits, cost controls, debt renegotiations, and re-engage their banks, GRA, Social Security and National Insurance Trust, MASLOC, and suppliers, with honesty and mutual respect.
Again, in the medium term, focus would be on growth through infrastructure upgrades, rebranding of products like Takai, Sorento Wine and Chevalier, export reactivation across ECOWAS, and the revamping of the Kumasi bottled water plant.
Applerh said in the long term, they would focus on transformation through a possible new ultra-modern plant in the Volta Region, reviving the Aboso Glass Factory, to secure bottle supply locally and supply the general glass needs of the country.
“We will also focus on establishing our own logistics fleet and warehouses and rebrand GIHOC to balance tradition with innovation,” he stressed.
Applerh said going forward, GIHOC would be transparent, merit-driven, value dialogue over confrontation, promote gender equity and youth inclusion, and be aligned with the government’s RESET Agenda and the national industrialisation plan.
He said the current management would restore GIHOC’s glory, rebuild its pride, reclaim its leadership in the beverage industry, return to profitability, honour its legacy, shape the future, and that the company would not just survive, but would thrive.
Watch the latest episode of BizTech below: