VICE PRESIDENT VICTOR FOH LAUNCHES NEW SALONE BEER 60cl

VP Foh Launches New Salone Beer 60cl

By Ranger

Vice President Victor Foh deputizing His Excellency President Koroma on Tuesday 20th December 2016 officially launched the new Salone 60 cl Beer.

Speaking at the ceremony at the Sierra Leone Brewery Company complex in Wellington, VP Foh apologized for the President’s unavoidable absence and read on his behalf a prepared speech in which President Koroma wished the company and the industry all the good things that they wish for themselves and the country.

President Koroma commended SLBL for utilizing the Local Content Policy; adding that production here of a 100% sorghum beer is impressive. He assured sorghum farmers of government’s support to meet Brewery’s demand. He noted that expanded sorghum production among other things will help to alleviate poverty in the rural areas.

He spoke of brewery’s contribution to value-added activities in the country which has helped the country to record renewed growth through private sector participation.

The Deputy Minister of Trade, Mohamed ‘Washinga’ Mansaray, spoke of the need for an MoU with the ministry to enhance sorghum production in the country. He mentioned marketing, high yielding seeds and land preparation and post-harvest loss; services the ministry can help the sorghum farmers with as he highlighted government’s role in promoting agriculture.

The Deputy Minister 11, Hon. Lovell Thomas spoke of the President’s mandate for the private sector to produce here.
Chairman of the Sorghum Farmers Association, Denis Jusu, gave the history of the association’s formation in Kambia in 2006 and its expansion to cover the entire country with a membership of 9, 000 to 10, 000 out-growers.

He thanked President Koroma and his government for providing the enabling climate and his commitment to the agricultural sector; especially to sorghum and cassava farmers and enactment of the 2016 Finance Act which gives protection and incentive to local producers.

Managing Director of SLBL, Willy Alphonse Ngana, called the launching a remarkable day; a day that they fulfil a promise made to His Excellency President Koroma in Amsterdam, Holland in 2014. The launching he said was SLBL’s commitment to the growth and development of the nation.

The event also witnessed a combination of various achievements which include showcasing and commissioning of the new state-of-the-art Mash filter, a new Waste Water Treatment Plant and launching of the 100% sorghum Salone Beer.

He thanked President Koroma and his government for creating the enabling environment for local industries to thrive; noting that this demonstrates that the private sector can work in synergy with the government for the growth of the nation.

The speeches were preceded by a tour of the Brewery, commissioning of the Brew House/Mash Filter, Commissioning of the Waste Water Treatment Plant and the Clinic.

Other speakers at the ceremony included the Deputy Speaker of the House of Parliament, Hon. Chernoh Bah; Minister of Political Affairs, Madam Nanette Thomas; Minister of State, Vice President’s Office, Hon. Alie Bah; Chief of Staff, State House, Saidu Conton Sesay. The program was chaired by Special Adviser to the President, Hon. Alpha Khan.

After the unveiling of the new Salone Beer, sampling of the product was done with former NPRC junta leader, Chairman Valentine Strasser.

The vote of thanks was given by the Head of Human Resources, Zorah Anthony.