Unilever says fire outbreak has not affected production

Tema, June 19, GNA - Management of Unilever Ghana Limited has assured the public and its numerous customers of continuous supply of its products on the market.

The management staff, who took turns to address a press briefing in Tema on Thursday, said last Monday's fire outbreak did not affect production as it was concentrated only at the "keepability room" of the laboratory where only the air conditioner was destroyed. They said all samples of products meant for testing in the laboratory were not affected except that they were covered with sooth. Mr Kofi Essuman, Safety/Health, Environment and Quality Assurance Manager, commended personnel of Tema office of the Ghana National Fire Service and the police for responding to a distress call on time to join the staff of Unilever to put out the fire.

Mr Essuman said Unilever has modern fire fighting equipment but all were exhausted thus necessitating others to come to their aid. The management staff took newsmen round the laboratory to inspect all the equipments which were intact.

Unilever in conjunction with Anti Illicit Trade Coalition (AITC) comprising Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Standards Board on Thursday destroyed two 20 footer container loads of fake "Close Up" tooth paste at the Kpone land filled site.

Mr Kwaku Boateng, Customer Development Director of Unilever, told the newsmen that the destruction was carried out on the orders of a court. He said last year Unilever had a tip off that some people had placed an order for counterfeit close up toothpaste from China and they alerted the police who impounded the product in April. Mr Boateng said Unilever Ghana labels its "Close Up" toothpaste in red and that of the Francophone countries in green.