Mr. Ramchand Udharam Mohinani, Chairman of the Mohinani Group of Companies, was honoured with the lifetime Entrepreneur/Achievement Award at the 2nd Ghana Entrepreneur Awards and Dinner 2011, held at the State House on April 22nd, 2012.
The event, organized by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Delloitte and Touche, aimed at recognizing the
outstanding achievements of Ghanaian and resident foreign entrepreneurs who have excelled in developing successful businesses, employment generation, and contributing to the growth of the country’s economy.
Beside Mr. Mohinani picking up the ultimate award on the night, thirty entrepreneurs were also awarded for playing various roles in the development of Ghana’s economy through their entrepreneurial adventures.
Ramchand Udharam Mohinani is the founder and chairman of the Mohinani Group of Companies. Born in India, he moved to Ghana in 1957 with a few colleagues to establish a franchise for a trading entity in Ghana. He is married to his wife Sheela and blessed with three sons: Ashok, Anil, and Sunil.
He established a number of successful manufacturing companies in Ghana. These include Ghana’s first polyethylene factory in 1966, Poly Products Ghana Limited, the flagship of the Mohinani Group of Companies, to support the packaging and processing industry. In 1976, he established Poly Sacks (Ghana) Limited to produce polypropylene packaging for the agroprocessing industry. In the 1990s, he created two more factories that have become huge household names: Polytank (Ghana) Limited, and Poly Kraft (Ghana) which have an enormous portfolio of products including water tanks, PET, PVC bottles, and other multiple products meant for packaging a wide range of consumer goods, including fish, alcoholic beverages, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, etc.
He diversified into the trade and distribution sector by establishing Somotex (1986), Somovision (1999), and Uniwell (1993). These units specialise in the distribution of consumer electronics, home appliances, tyres amongst others, with representation of key brands such as LG Electronics, Philips domestic appliances, etc.
He entered the real estate industry in 2005 with the establishment of South West Estates & Tourism (Ghana) Limited, and its first development is the Arabella Residency at Cantonments.
He went ahead to form Alliance Estates, a construction outfit established to have a foothold in the hospitality industry. They have started constructing a new hotel, Protea Hotel Select, in Takoradi, a four-star accommodation that, when completed, is expected to have 136 rooms and 12 two-bedroom apartments for short stays.
In 2010, the Group secured the franchise to run KFC restaurants in Ghana, and the first two restaurants opened at Oxford Street, Osu, and Melcom Plus in the North Industrial Area of Accra in 2011.
The Mohinani Group has extended its reach beyond the shores of Ghana with operations in London, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Tanzania, etc. The diverse activities of these companies provide employment directly to over 2,000 people across the country and a global work force of over 3000 people.
The Group earlier won the National Good Corporate Citizen Award in recognition of its social responsibility, which includes a donation of $100,000.00 (one hundred thousand dollars) to the School of Health Sciences at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, scholarships, sponsorship of national social events, and proper plastic waste management advocacy.
Story: Lennox Amagyei-Antw
Accra: Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The Mohinani Group has presented its annual support to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture towards this year’s National Farmers’ Day Celebrations.
The support which was in kind and valued at GHC 15,000 were made up of products produced by Poly Tanks Ghana Limited, the manufacturing arm of the Group.
The items included five (5) pieces of 2,000 litre water storage tanks (Poly Tank), seven (7) rolls of 25kg black sheetings and 1,000 pieces of 100kg polypropylene woven sacks. The others included 40 pieces of 25 litre gallons, 180 pieces of 25 kilo yam and 220 pieces of standard vegetable cartons.
Presenting the items to the Agriculture Ministry, officials from the Group on behalf of Management congratulated all farmers for their tireless toils in feeding the nation and also making sure that there is enough food in stock throughout all seasons.
The items, they said were to assist the winners to add value to their produce by packaging them for the ready market. They noted that Mohinani has over the past 50 years contributed to the growth of Ghana’s agricultural sector by locally producing plastic and paper packaging products to preserve food quality, minimize wastage and enhance the marketability of agricultural produce in the local or global markets.
“As a trailblazer in the packaging industry in Ghana, Mohinani has continuously invested in the best and latest cutting technologies in manufacturing packaging products to improve the look, appeal and feel of agricultural products as well as cut down the country’s import bill on packaging products”, they emphasized.
Receiving the items, the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Robert Patrick Ankobiah expressed his appreciation to the Group for their kind gesture and always supporting the celebrations to reward the gallant farmers of the country.
He said although the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the celebrations this year but the Ministry was determined to go ahead and honour farmers in the country.
“This is because the COVID actually made us to appreciate the more what the farmers have been contributing because but for them the food security the country had especially on the on-set would not have been probably possible”, he said.
The Mohinani Group through its manufacturing subsidiaries have over the past decade offered its unflinching support to the national Farmers’ Day celebrations. Annually, the Group commits more than GHC 10,000 to this cause as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility to improve post-harvest loses and agricultural marketing in the country.
Accra: March 15, 2018-: Polytanks (Gh) Ltd, the lead producers of plastic storage tanks in partnership with the Safe Water Network Ghana, a non-governmental organization, has deliberated with stakeholders on improving the activities of Small Water Enterprises. The Polytanks Ghana and Safe Water Network’s relationship has also helped to supply, over a hundred communities with potable water, complimenting government’s efforts at meeting the United Nations sustainable development goal on water. Polytanks Ghana provided an undisclosed amount toward the stakeholder engagement.
This year’s “Beyond the Pipe” forum held under the theme “Taking Small Water Enterprises to Scale” brought together stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector, to build consensus on practical ways of improving the sustainability of Small Water Enterprises (SWEs) in the country.
Small water Enterprises, are community-based outlets which provide clean, safe and potable water to deprived communities around the country. The 2018 forum is the second time Polytanks Ghana a subsidiary of the Mohinani Group is collaborating with the NGO to organize such forum.
Polytanks and the Save Water Network have nurtured their fruitful business relationship to aid the work of the NGO for almost a decade. Executive Director of the Mohinani Group, Mr. Ashok Mohinani, was hopeful for an expanded collaboration that will assist more communities with clean water.
“One of the key objectives of the Mohinani Group CSR policy, is to partner public and private institutions in scaling up the provision of sustainable and safe water supply to all Ghanaians around the clock”, Mr. Mohinani stated -adding that, “Polytanks will continue to supply quality and durable water storage tanks to Safe Water Network and other government agencies, as part of facilitating the provision of clean, affordable and reliable water supply to communities”, he noted.
Mr. Ashok Mohinani, pledged the Group’s continued support to Safe Water Network in carrying out its mandate of building sustainable SWEs in order to provide rural and peri-urban communities in Ghana with portable and affordable access to water. Mr. Mohinani was also hopeful that the findings from the forum will help address the challenges faced by SWEs.
END
About Mohinani Group
The Mohinani Group is a leading 2nd generation family business group of Indian descent, employing over 3000 people in its multi-sector operations across various industries.
With activities ranging from manufacturing of packaging & plastics to trade & distribution in chemicals / polymers / consumer durables, amongst others, the group has a key position within its respective business segments across several countries on the African sub-continent.
From Ghana to Kenya, as well as in international trading & service centres such as Hong Kong, London and Mumbai. Key clients and suppliers rank amongst some of the largest and most credible companies in the world, such as LG Electronics, Exxon Mobil, Unilever, P&G & Coca Cola.
Accra, February 2022:
The Mohinani Group, through its premier water storage brand- Polytank, has donated tanks worth over GHC 32,000 to the Apiate Community to help provide the residents with clean drinking water. The timely gesture is in response to a national call by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to assist the victims with Polytanks to enable them get access to portable water following the explosion that occurred in the community two weeks ago.
The full trailer load of Polytanks were made up of four pieces of 10,000 litre tanks popularly known as Rambo 1,000 and six pieces of 2,500 litre Sumo tank capacities. The donation which was made to NADMO on behalf of the community formed part of the Group’s corporate social responsibility to ensure that all vulnerable and marginalized Ghanaians are provided with access to clean drinking safe water especially in times of severe national disasters.
In a statement, Mr. Ashok Mohinani, the Executive Director of the Mohinani Group, expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the fatalities of the disaster. Mr. Ashok also wished the speedy recovery to those injured and prayed for the total healing for all the affected within the community. He emphasised that, as a brand, Polytank truly cares about the wellbeing of Ghanaians especially in improving access to safe drinking water. This, he added, was the company’s contribution to helping the country achieve Goal 6 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr. Ashok expressed Polytank Ghana’s commitment to help in rebuilding the Apiate community saying “our donation today is a testament of our brand’s promise to help alleviate the effects of the aftermath of the explosion”. He therefore urged the Chiefs and residents of the Apiate community to maintain the Polytanks in order to benefit future generations.
Polytank Ghana is an industrial revolution company which spearheaded the development of the plastic and paper storage and packaging industry in Ghana. As a household brand name, Polytank sets itself apart by providing storage and packaging solutions that are trusted for generations. The Tanks Division of the brand has for the last 30 years provided solutions with high quality and durable products to address water and sanitation challenges in Ghana.
For further details, kindly contact:
Contact: Moudline Gyan
Phone: 233-243 087 774
Email: moudline@polygroupgh.com
KFC Care is a project that aims to show concern for the general public and build strong emotional ties, especially with Ghanaian school children. The goal is to contribute positively to society and promote our brand among the younger generation. The initiative aims to provide food and bring smiles to the faces of 500 schoolchildren every month. In support of this, KFC Ghana joined forces with Citi TV and Citi FM to participate in the #Relief4LowerVolta initiative. Through this effort, we provided KFC meals and drinks to 1,000 displaced children in Sokpe, Asidowhui, and Agbeve. These children and families have been displaced due to the Akosombo Dam spillage, which occurred in October 2023. The initiative will continue to be reinforced in 2024 and beyond.
KFC Ghana operates a restaurant that employs a total of 720 individuals, out of which 19 are hearing-impaired. This is in line with Masco Foods' Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) policy and the Mohinani Group's commitment to providing equal employment opportunities to all. The HR department collaborates with the National Association for the Deaf (NAD) to recruit more hearing-impaired individuals each year to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Additionally, the company has established the Boafo Scheme, a fund aimed at assisting employees who may be facing challenging circumstances. The scheme provides support in areas such as education, counselling, healthcare, housing, and funeral expenses. It was launched in May 2023 and has so far helped 21 employees in need.
In 2021, Ghana achieved a significant milestone as KFC Ghana celebrated its 10th anniversary in the country. As a part of their gesture to give back to the communities, KFC Ghana donated meals and cash to 10 deserving charities across the nation. This initiative was aimed at making a positive impact on the communities they serve, and it was received with enthusiasm.
Accra, November 19th, 2016 - More than 1000 workers of the Mohinani Group joined hands to give thanks to God for his blessings and protection throughout the group’s fifty years of operations in Ghana and other parts of the world, to climax the business’ week-long anniversary celebration.
Workers from the business's production, trading, and retail divisions were subsequently involved in various competitive yet enjoyable games, designed to encourage healthy living among the staff. The fun moments also afforded the staff members the opportunity to network and strengthen bonds with one another, in addition to demonstrating togetherness and unity across the business.
Staff members who had also served for more than a decade were also recognized and awarded for their loyalty and commitment to the business as part of the riveting climax.
Making an impact with the celebration
On September 14th & 15th the Mohinani Group launched its 50th anniversary recycling campaign amongst 20 schools in Ghana and engaged more than 5,000 pupils in Greater Accra Region and Ashanti Region.
Under the theme “Celebrating our Past, Inspiring the Future," the campaign sought to educate the Ghanaian populace and students on proper waste management and recycling.
On 23rd and 30th September, the Group in partnership with Environment 360, a non-profit NGO, organized an Edufair in Ashanti Region and Greater Accra Region to interact, engage, and educate over 2000 students through arts and games on proper waste management, disposal, and recycling. Within the same period, the Mohinani Group donated 92 Polytank bins to 20 schools to help manage and support waste disposal in the schools.
On October 1, 2016, The Mohinani Group, in partnership with the Environmental Service and Protection Agency (ESPA) and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), organized a clean-up exercise on the national sanitation day. Over 500 staff members participated in the exercise and desilted choked drains, cleaned open gutters, and swept the streets of Circle, James Town, Oxford Street, Avenor, and Ring Road.
A press release issued and signed by Ashok Mohinani, Executive Director of the Group, said the campaign forms part of the Group’s commitment towards recycling to help reprocess plastic and carrier bags, especially to reduce the pressure on the environment. “As we celebrate a significant milestone in our journey, we want to give back to society in an environmentally sustainable way since our products or services have in one way or another contributed to the challenge of plastic waste in the country," he emphasised.
Touching on the Group’s achievements, the Executive Director said it has for the past 50 years invested hugely in machinery and human capital, as well as expanded its line of operations, with the sole aim of meeting quality international standards and delivering the best to its consumers.
“With just one company in Accra, the Mohinani Group has grown into a diversified world-class group with businesses and brands across the globe and a penchant for innovation and industrial leadership," Mr. Ashok revealed.
Mr. Ashok said the Group’s consistent investments in the Ghanaian economy have not only provided quality products and services but also helped to create jobs and reduce poverty in the last half century.
“We have employed over 10,000 people directly or indirectly, provided scholarships, educational infrastructure, access to portable water, and supported entrepreneurial and community development all in our bid to make life better for Ghanaians everywhere," he stressed.
Hands play a critical role in the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, so promoting good hand hygiene is one of the simplest yet powerful health protocols that Ghana must continue to leverage to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Thoroughly washing hands with soap under running water for at least 20 seconds has been affirmed as an effective way to reduce the spread and also help prevent the COVID-19 virus and other transmittable infections.
In an effort to encourage Ghanaians to adopt regular hand washing practices in their day-to-day activities, Polytank Ghana, the largest producer of sanitation products, has launched the novel Poly Safe Wash, an innovative and easy-to-use device to make water accessible in public places for the practice.
The 5-foot portable wash station has a 200-litre water storage tank, a hand basin, and a waste disposal container with a capacity of 60-litre, all mounted on a metal pedestal.
Polytank Ghana’s Commitment to Public Health Safety and Awareness
The World Health Organization (WHO) has tasked Member States with making hand hygiene facilities mandatory in private and public spaces to aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic; thus, the introduction of the Poly Safe Wash is part of Polytank Ghana's commitment to promoting a healthy and safe environment for the people of Ghana. This innovative product is also an initiative to support the Ghanaian government in fighting the spread of the disease with local solutions and technology.
The Poly Safe Wash station, on the average, provides a minimum of 100 hand washes per every 200-litre water storage tank, making it suitable for areas of high population such as private and public institutions, health care facilities, educational facilities, religious facilities, security service offices, and other trafficked areas.
Why choose the Poly Safe Wash?
It’s 100% hygienic
The Poly Safe Wash is a foot-operated handwashing system that presents all hygiene supplies at one spot. It includes a soap dispenser, water, and tissue compartments, all of which are essential for proper hand washing. It is also fitted with a handwash basin and waste container for easy and safe disposal of unsanitary water without the need to install a complex water drainage system. The wastewater container is airtight and prevents water spills, ensuring a healthy and clean environment at all times.
The device also allows for easy and safe refilling of consumables such as soap and water, as well as disinfecting the tap and basin to prevent infections.
It’s 100% hands free
The Poly Safe Wash, being a touchless device, significantly minimizes the potential of contracting and transmitting diseases, as well as preventing infections such as the novel COVID-19. Because it is not operated by hand, there is no cross-contamination between hand washers, thus making it safe for mass use.
It’s 100% easy to use
The Poly Safe Wash is a simple device that can be operated by everybody at any time without any difficulty. Moreover, because it is lightweight, it can be easily assembled at any location without requiring much storage space. To use it, simply apply 'foot power' to one of the pedals for the liquid washing soap and the other for the flow of running water. Press, wash, and you’re done!
The device is also available in a variety of bright colours for easy identification by users.
Where can you use the Poly Safe Wash?
It is suitable for both private and public use. This includes, but not limited to, transportation terminals, educational institutions, healthcare centers, shopping malls, religious facilities, event centers, grooming and beauty salons, public institutions, government agencies, and other densely populated areas.
Portable Mobile Toilet; Africa’s solution to waste and Sanitation Management
Jan 10, 2020
In a bid to get closer to the Millennium Development Goal of halving the 2.5 billion people without sanitation access, innovative solutions such as the invention of the mobile toilet system have immensely reduced the issue of improper waste management in Africa, especially Ghana.
Advancement in portable technology has allowed the early adoption of portable mobile technologies, providing a unique opportunity for the region to bridge the gap between the lack of proper waste management and the hassle of travelling a long distance to relieve one’s self.
The challenge of sanitation intervention has always been to keep up with the growing population. This growth in population has resulted in overcrowding and exacerbating sanitation issues. As a result, people often have no choice but to use bushes, beaches, gutters, and uncompleted buildings as places of convenience, which are un-dignifying and also increase the risk of spreading deadly diseases.
Inadequate, decent toilet facilities, especially in cities, continue to be a major health threat that affects the majority of Ghanaians, despite general improvements in urban sanitation programs. In the last twenty years, sanitation coverage has made great strides, but it continues to be less accessible to the urban poor. It is for this reason that Ghana needs to adopt the ‘Every Community, a Portable Toilet strategy to bridge this gap.
Reasons being that having portable toilets at vantage points on the stretches of our urban roads will reduce the pressure of having people use filling stations, hotels, and people’s homes as emergency restrooms for easing themselves.
With portable mobile toilets, our gutters and dumping sites will be free from human excreta. It will come in handy for communities to have portable toilets to reduce and eradicate open defecation. ‘Every community, a portable toilet’ initiative will provide consumers with a unique, safe, and healthy, maintainable facility that is affordable and effective in the long term.
With the emergence of portable toilet systems, the pressure that mounts on public toilets will reduce, and the limited capacity of public toilets, which has resulted in people either urinating outside or defecating into containers popularly referred to as ‘wrap and throw’ will cease. The issue of “Do not urinate here” written on people’s walls will also stop, as people will be compelled to use the mobile toilet rather than openly spraying urine on people’s walls.
The placement of portable mobile toilets on vantage points on highways will serve as a source of income and employment for individuals or agents who would like to manage them and ensure their maintenance. It will further minimize the number of people defecating on the highway. Portable sanitation like mobile toilets will go a long way in decreasing the likelihood of adverse health epidemics in the nation.
BACKGROUD
Ghana’s leading producer of water tanks and sanitation storage products, Polytank, has introduced a new mobile toilet system that seeks to change the lives of Ghanaians by improving access to decent and adequate toilet facilities in peri-urban communities. The complete portable toilet system is made up of a moveable kiosk fitted with a toilet bowl that has a flushing mechanism, a hand washing sink, and a bio-digester for waste disposal and management.
The attached bio-digester helps to chemically treat the urine and faeces through an inbuilt system, making the disposed sewage environmentally safe. The toilet is also made with high-quality ultraviolet raw material that repels insects such as termites, carpenter ants, and woodborers, which are found in wooden structures. The new mobile toilet is lighter and provides consumer privacy in a well-ventilated space with an adequate handwashing basin to prevent the spread of bacteria and cross-contamination.
How does the biodigester toilet work?
PolyTank’s bio-digester technology decomposes human excretory waste in the digester tank using specific high-grade bacteria, converting it into methane and water that is discharged further to the desired surface. The solid human waste is broken down to liquid affluent by the methanogenic bacteria culture supplied with the biodigester.
This environmentally friendly toilet system resolves the problems of un-decomposed human waste by degrading and converting human waste into usable water and gases in an eco-friendly manner. It produces biogas, and the liquid affluent can be recycled to flush toilets, used for irrigation, or channeled to a sock pit. The gas produced will supplement the gas from the biodigester.
Due to the inbuilt overhead water storage tank, which can store up to 200 litres of water for flushing, customers wouldn’t have to worry about a shortage of water. The moveable toilet system, which comes in a combination of colours can be easily assembled and disassembled, making it suitable for homes, construction sites, and outdoor events such as festivals, parties, funerals, concerts, and conferences.
POLYTANK AS A BRAND
Polytank is a brand under the Mohinani Group with over 25 years of manufacturing experience in delivering water and sanitation storage solutions to Ghanaians. The company also manufactures products such as polykiosks, plastic pallets, traffic cones, road barriers, and fish tanks, among others.
Polytank is one of the pioneers in Ghana to manufacture a complete portable toilet system that is hygienic, environmentally safe, and healthy. Polytank’s mobile toilet initiative is part of efforts to support government and international development organisations to end open defecation by providing access to affordable and sustainable toilets. The new mobile toilet helps to address the insanitary challenges associated with the lack of toilet facilities.
By: Elizabeth Owusu-Kissi
On Monday March 23, 2020 the world will focus its attention on the importance of water in safeguarding human security and maintaining the health of our eco-systems.
Policy makers and experts in water, sanitation and climate change will gather at the various national, regional and global levels to observe this year’s World Water Day under the theme: “Water and Climate Change.” This year’s theme will explore the relationship between water and climate change and how each affects the other in the world.
Globally, it is estimated that more than 700 million people do not have access to a basic drinking water service with majority of people in Sub-Saharan Africa mostly affected. In Ghana, statistics indicate that there is a lot of inequality in the water distribution system with some segments of the public still deprived of sustainable access to water.
According to officials of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) people in urban areas are 98 percent likely to have access to safe water as compared to 50 percent of those in the Northern Region.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 mandates all countries to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all its citizens. For Ghana to achieve its SDG6, there is the need for stakeholders to help address and bridge the gap of unequal water distribution in order to ensure that Ghanaians everywhere have access to sustainable water.
Water storage can be one of the key solutions to help ensure that every Ghanaian has access to constant clean water supply. Having water in store will help to avert some socio-economic challenges that arise during water crises.
Polytank’s Role
Polytank is a trailblazer and the leader in the production of plastic water storage tanks and packaging products in Ghana. For over 25 years, Polytank has demonstrated its leadership as a change marker in water solutions not only in Ghana but in the West African sub region.
Established in 1992, Polytank was the panacea to Ghana’s water shortage crises and has since become the trusted name among households when it comes to regular water storage and supply for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes in the country. With tanks that have storage capacity between 200 to 30,000 litres, Polytank has provided water storage solutions that suit every Ghanaian.
Expanding access to sustainable clean water supply
Improvement in access to potable water supply in Ghana is the cardinal principle around which Polytank’s operations have revolved. Our brand has been committed to ensuring that clean water is brought to the doorstep of every Ghanaian irrespective of their location.
We have ensured this by building a very wide, strong and timely channel of distribution over the years. Currently, Polytank is the only water storage brand that has over two hundred sales outlets across the country, making sure that its products are readily available even in the farthest district of the country.
Building a very strong dealership network has helped to improve access to water in both urban and rural communities in Ghana. This is because consumers do not need to travel long distances to purchase storage tanks which can sometimes discourage them. This has also gone a long-way to help reduce preventable water and sanitation-related diseases in the country.
Nearly seven to eight out of 10 households have a Polytank for water storage. Assuming that the number of people living in each household is five, then Polytank is providing access to clean water for about 35 to 40 people daily in a particular location.
The rippling effect of 20 Polytanks in a particular community is that at least a 100 people have been provided with daily access to clean water for their various purposes. Per the assumption above, Polytank’s commitment of helping Ghanaians to have access to clean and sustainable water supply is being achieved on a daily basis in homes, businesses and the community at large.
Investments in infrastructural developments
Another area Polytank is helping to improve access to water in Ghana is the introduction of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies that helps to produce water storage products that are affordable and suits the pockets of all classes of the economy.
As an industrial leader, Polytank was the first to introduce the Blow Moulding Technology for producing water storage tanks in Ghana in 2016. This technology helps to save costs on labour and energy to the benefit of the consumer. By so doing, Polytank has been able to produce water tanks that are less expensive and meet the needs of the Ghanaian who is in need of clean water.
Apart from skills and technology transfer, Polytank has also expanded its operations by building a factory in the Ashanti Region to bring its products closer to consumers in the Middle and Northern belt of the country without delays or shortages.
Corporate Responsibility
As a socially responsible brand, Polytank prides itself in improving access to potable water to marginalized groups and institutions through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
Being the lead producer of durable water storage tanks in Ghana, Polytank believes that access to clean water for all humans is a right. The role of clean water in ensuring good health, proper sanitation and improved livelihoods is a daily reality.
Annually Polytanks spends more than a GH¢100,000 in tank donations to government and educational institutions, international NGOs, rural communities among others.
Beneficiaries of our benevolence have included the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana Fire Service, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation and the Wesley Girls Senior High School. Others are the Kwahu Hwidiem, Dampong and Asuboa communities in the Eastern and Ashanti Regions as well as the Operation Smile Medical Missions in Ghana.
More than 10,000 Ghanaians have so far benefited from Polytank’s policy of helping improve access to water.
Protecting the Environment
Polytank believes that its activities have a huge and lasting impact on the health of the environment. Apart from implementing good manufacturing practices that reduce energy consumption and minimize waste, Polytank is also helping to prevent environmental pollution.
Plastic pollution in lakes and rivers have become a common phenomenon because of uncontrolled dumping of plastics into fresh water.
In order to help reduce plastic waste in the environment, Polytank, through the Mohinani Group’s Waste Management and Recycling initiative (Corporate Social Responsibility) is helping to prevent plastic littering through recycling for school children. The brand believes that children are the future and it is imperative that they get involved in shaping their own future.
The beneficiary school children are educated to become eco heroes or ambassadors for a cleaner, healthier and greener environment. Through various environmental seminars the pupils are given orientation on waste collection and segregation by providing them with dustbins and poly bags. The schools with the huge amount waste are rewarded after a period of three months.
Since its inception four years ago, over 20,000 school pupils in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions have participated in the programme with about 30 tonnes of recyclables (plastics and papers) collected in their various schools and communities. The Group has also invested more than 20,000 US dollars in the initiative since its inception.
As the world celebrates World Water Day today, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the water sector to double their efforts in removing obstacles that hinder access to sustainable water and its management for all Ghanaians in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 6.
There is also the need for a sustainable and customized approach that can be easily be adopted and implemented by manufacturers to help protect our fresh water resources from human pollution especially plastics.
Polytank is committed to this and is showing the way.
Polytank Ghana Team Makes a Splash at the RPERT Conference
The Polytank Ghana team made a big splash at the recent Renewable Plastic Energy & Recycling Technology (RPERT) conference, held in Ghana. The conference brought together industry leaders, experts, and practitioners from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in renewable plastics, energy, and recycling technologies.
The Polytank Ghana team was well-represented at the conference, with several team members giving presentations and participating in panel discussions. In addition, the team had a booth at the conference expo, where they showcased their latest products and technologies.
The Restaurant Managers Award Initiative was created by Masco Foods' General Manager, John Swanepoel, in 2022 to recognize staff. The second event was held in December 2023.
The 2023 Awards and Recognition event for Restaurant General Managers (RGM) of KFC Ghana was held on Friday,12th January to celebrate the achievement of No.1 leaders and above store leaders in KFC Ghana. Notable for this year’s awards ceremony, winners were awarded with an all-expense paid trip to Cape Town South Africa, to attend the 2024 No. 1 LEADERS Conference, taking place from 21st to 23rd April, 2024.
KFC Catering Services was established to facilitate Ghanaians in serving our meals at their everyday cultural and lifestyle events. Ghana is a culturally sensitive country that values the key events of a life cycle, such as marriage, birth, and death, where feasting is a common practice. To cater to all kinds of functions, including office programs, diplomatic functions, funerals, weddings, parties, and more, we offer catering and bulk delivery services. In 2023, we served top clients such as the American Embassy and MTN Ghana. To place an order, customers can simply call us on 0593879889. This is a part of our strategic plan to make our brand more community-oriented and create more growth opportunities for our business.
Accra, November 19th, 2016 - More than 1000 workers of the Mohinani Group joined hands to give thanks to God for his blessings and protection throughout the group’s fifty years of operations in Ghana and other parts of the world, to climax the business’ week-long anniversary celebration.
Workers from the business's production, trading, and retail divisions were subsequently involved in various competitive yet enjoyable games, designed to encourage healthy living among the staff. The fun moments also afforded the staff members the opportunity to network and strengthen bonds with one another, in addition to demonstrating togetherness and unity across the business.
Staff members who had also served for more than a decade were also recognized and awarded for their loyalty and commitment to the business as part of the riveting climax.
Making an impact with the celebration
On September 14th & 15th the Mohinani Group launched its 50th anniversary recycling campaign amongst 20 schools in Ghana and engaged more than 5,000 pupils in Greater Accra Region and Ashanti Region.
Under the theme “Celebrating our Past, Inspiring the Future," the campaign sought to educate the Ghanaian populace and students on proper waste management and recycling.
On 23rd and 30th September, the Group in partnership with Environment 360, a non-profit NGO, organized an Edufair in Ashanti Region and Greater Accra Region to interact, engage, and educate over 2000 students through arts and games on proper waste management, disposal, and recycling. Within the same period, the Mohinani Group donated 92 Polytank bins to 20 schools to help manage and support waste disposal in the schools.
On October 1, 2016, The Mohinani Group, in partnership with the Environmental Service and Protection Agency (ESPA) and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), organized a clean-up exercise on the national sanitation day. Over 500 staff members participated in the exercise and desilted choked drains, cleaned open gutters, and swept the streets of Circle, James Town, Oxford Street, Avenor, and Ring Road.
A press release issued and signed by Ashok Mohinani, Executive Director of the Group, said the campaign forms part of the Group’s commitment towards recycling to help reprocess plastic and carrier bags, especially to reduce the pressure on the environment. “As we celebrate a significant milestone in our journey, we want to give back to society in an environmentally sustainable way since our products or services have in one way or another contributed to the challenge of plastic waste in the country," he emphasised.
Touching on the Group’s achievements, the Executive Director said it has for the past 50 years invested hugely in machinery and human capital, as well as expanded its line of operations, with the sole aim of meeting quality international standards and delivering the best to its consumers.
“With just one company in Accra, the Mohinani Group has grown into a diversified world-class group with businesses and brands across the globe and a penchant for innovation and industrial leadership," Mr. Ashok revealed.
Mr. Ashok said the Group’s consistent investments in the Ghanaian economy have not only provided quality products and services but also helped to create jobs and reduce poverty in the last half century.
“We have employed over 10,000 people directly or indirectly, provided scholarships, educational infrastructure, access to portable water, and supported entrepreneurial and community development all in our bid to make life better for Ghanaians everywhere," he stressed.
Hands play a critical role in the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, so promoting good hand hygiene is one of the simplest yet powerful health protocols that Ghana must continue to leverage to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Thoroughly washing hands with soap under running water for at least 20 seconds has been affirmed as an effective way to reduce the spread and also help prevent the COVID-19 virus and other transmittable infections.
In an effort to encourage Ghanaians to adopt regular hand washing practices in their day-to-day activities, Polytank Ghana, the largest producer of sanitation products, has launched the novel Poly Safe Wash, an innovative and easy-to-use device to make water accessible in public places for the practice.
The 5-foot portable wash station has a 200-litre water storage tank, a hand basin, and a waste disposal container with a capacity of 60-litre, all mounted on a metal pedestal.
Polytank Ghana’s Commitment to Public Health Safety and Awareness
The World Health Organization (WHO) has tasked Member States with making hand hygiene facilities mandatory in private and public spaces to aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic; thus, the introduction of the Poly Safe Wash is part of Polytank Ghana's commitment to promoting a healthy and safe environment for the people of Ghana. This innovative product is also an initiative to support the Ghanaian government in fighting the spread of the disease with local solutions and technology.
The Poly Safe Wash station, on the average, provides a minimum of 100 hand washes per every 200-litre water storage tank, making it suitable for areas of high population such as private and public institutions, health care facilities, educational facilities, religious facilities, security service offices, and other trafficked areas.
Why choose the Poly Safe Wash?
It’s 100% hygienic
The Poly Safe Wash is a foot-operated handwashing system that presents all hygiene supplies at one spot. It includes a soap dispenser, water, and tissue compartments, all of which are essential for proper hand washing. It is also fitted with a handwash basin and waste container for easy and safe disposal of unsanitary water without the need to install a complex water drainage system. The wastewater container is airtight and prevents water spills, ensuring a healthy and clean environment at all times.
The device also allows for easy and safe refilling of consumables such as soap and water, as well as disinfecting the tap and basin to prevent infections.
It’s 100% hands free
The Poly Safe Wash, being a touchless device, significantly minimizes the potential of contracting and transmitting diseases, as well as preventing infections such as the novel COVID-19. Because it is not operated by hand, there is no cross-contamination between hand washers, thus making it safe for mass use.
It’s 100% easy to use
The Poly Safe Wash is a simple device that can be operated by everybody at any time without any difficulty. Moreover, because it is lightweight, it can be easily assembled at any location without requiring much storage space. To use it, simply apply 'foot power' to one of the pedals for the liquid washing soap and the other for the flow of running water. Press, wash, and you’re done!
The device is also available in a variety of bright colours for easy identification by users.
Where can you use the Poly Safe Wash?
It is suitable for both private and public use. This includes, but not limited to, transportation terminals, educational institutions, healthcare centers, shopping malls, religious facilities, event centers, grooming and beauty salons, public institutions, government agencies, and other densely populated areas.
Portable Mobile Toilet; Africa’s solution to waste and Sanitation Management
Jan 10, 2020
In a bid to get closer to the Millennium Development Goal of halving the 2.5 billion people without sanitation access, innovative solutions such as the invention of the mobile toilet system have immensely reduced the issue of improper waste management in Africa, especially Ghana.
Advancement in portable technology has allowed the early adoption of portable mobile technologies, providing a unique opportunity for the region to bridge the gap between the lack of proper waste management and the hassle of travelling a long distance to relieve one’s self.
The challenge of sanitation intervention has always been to keep up with the growing population. This growth in population has resulted in overcrowding and exacerbating sanitation issues. As a result, people often have no choice but to use bushes, beaches, gutters, and uncompleted buildings as places of convenience, which are un-dignifying and also increase the risk of spreading deadly diseases.
Inadequate, decent toilet facilities, especially in cities, continue to be a major health threat that affects the majority of Ghanaians, despite general improvements in urban sanitation programs. In the last twenty years, sanitation coverage has made great strides, but it continues to be less accessible to the urban poor. It is for this reason that Ghana needs to adopt the ‘Every Community, a Portable Toilet strategy to bridge this gap.
Reasons being that having portable toilets at vantage points on the stretches of our urban roads will reduce the pressure of having people use filling stations, hotels, and people’s homes as emergency restrooms for easing themselves.
With portable mobile toilets, our gutters and dumping sites will be free from human excreta. It will come in handy for communities to have portable toilets to reduce and eradicate open defecation. ‘Every community, a portable toilet’ initiative will provide consumers with a unique, safe, and healthy, maintainable facility that is affordable and effective in the long term.
With the emergence of portable toilet systems, the pressure that mounts on public toilets will reduce, and the limited capacity of public toilets, which has resulted in people either urinating outside or defecating into containers popularly referred to as ‘wrap and throw’ will cease. The issue of “Do not urinate here” written on people’s walls will also stop, as people will be compelled to use the mobile toilet rather than openly spraying urine on people’s walls.
The placement of portable mobile toilets on vantage points on highways will serve as a source of income and employment for individuals or agents who would like to manage them and ensure their maintenance. It will further minimize the number of people defecating on the highway. Portable sanitation like mobile toilets will go a long way in decreasing the likelihood of adverse health epidemics in the nation.
BACKGROUD
Ghana’s leading producer of water tanks and sanitation storage products, Polytank, has introduced a new mobile toilet system that seeks to change the lives of Ghanaians by improving access to decent and adequate toilet facilities in peri-urban communities. The complete portable toilet system is made up of a moveable kiosk fitted with a toilet bowl that has a flushing mechanism, a hand washing sink, and a bio-digester for waste disposal and management.
The attached bio-digester helps to chemically treat the urine and faeces through an inbuilt system, making the disposed sewage environmentally safe. The toilet is also made with high-quality ultraviolet raw material that repels insects such as termites, carpenter ants, and woodborers, which are found in wooden structures. The new mobile toilet is lighter and provides consumer privacy in a well-ventilated space with an adequate handwashing basin to prevent the spread of bacteria and cross-contamination.
How does the biodigester toilet work?
PolyTank’s bio-digester technology decomposes human excretory waste in the digester tank using specific high-grade bacteria, converting it into methane and water that is discharged further to the desired surface. The solid human waste is broken down to liquid affluent by the methanogenic bacteria culture supplied with the biodigester.
This environmentally friendly toilet system resolves the problems of un-decomposed human waste by degrading and converting human waste into usable water and gases in an eco-friendly manner. It produces biogas, and the liquid affluent can be recycled to flush toilets, used for irrigation, or channeled to a sock pit. The gas produced will supplement the gas from the biodigester.
Due to the inbuilt overhead water storage tank, which can store up to 200 litres of water for flushing, customers wouldn’t have to worry about a shortage of water. The moveable toilet system, which comes in a combination of colours can be easily assembled and disassembled, making it suitable for homes, construction sites, and outdoor events such as festivals, parties, funerals, concerts, and conferences.
POLYTANK AS A BRAND
Polytank is a brand under the Mohinani Group with over 25 years of manufacturing experience in delivering water and sanitation storage solutions to Ghanaians. The company also manufactures products such as polykiosks, plastic pallets, traffic cones, road barriers, and fish tanks, among others.
Polytank is one of the pioneers in Ghana to manufacture a complete portable toilet system that is hygienic, environmentally safe, and healthy. Polytank’s mobile toilet initiative is part of efforts to support government and international development organisations to end open defecation by providing access to affordable and sustainable toilets. The new mobile toilet helps to address the insanitary challenges associated with the lack of toilet facilities.
By: Elizabeth Owusu-Kissi
On Monday March 23, 2020 the world will focus its attention on the importance of water in safeguarding human security and maintaining the health of our eco-systems.
Policy makers and experts in water, sanitation and climate change will gather at the various national, regional and global levels to observe this year’s World Water Day under the theme: “Water and Climate Change.” This year’s theme will explore the relationship between water and climate change and how each affects the other in the world.
Globally, it is estimated that more than 700 million people do not have access to a basic drinking water service with majority of people in Sub-Saharan Africa mostly affected. In Ghana, statistics indicate that there is a lot of inequality in the water distribution system with some segments of the public still deprived of sustainable access to water.
According to officials of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) people in urban areas are 98 percent likely to have access to safe water as compared to 50 percent of those in the Northern Region.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6 mandates all countries to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all its citizens. For Ghana to achieve its SDG6, there is the need for stakeholders to help address and bridge the gap of unequal water distribution in order to ensure that Ghanaians everywhere have access to sustainable water.
Water storage can be one of the key solutions to help ensure that every Ghanaian has access to constant clean water supply. Having water in store will help to avert some socio-economic challenges that arise during water crises.
Polytank’s Role
Polytank is a trailblazer and the leader in the production of plastic water storage tanks and packaging products in Ghana. For over 25 years, Polytank has demonstrated its leadership as a change marker in water solutions not only in Ghana but in the West African sub region.
Established in 1992, Polytank was the panacea to Ghana’s water shortage crises and has since become the trusted name among households when it comes to regular water storage and supply for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes in the country. With tanks that have storage capacity between 200 to 30,000 litres, Polytank has provided water storage solutions that suit every Ghanaian.
Expanding access to sustainable clean water supply
Improvement in access to potable water supply in Ghana is the cardinal principle around which Polytank’s operations have revolved. Our brand has been committed to ensuring that clean water is brought to the doorstep of every Ghanaian irrespective of their location.
We have ensured this by building a very wide, strong and timely channel of distribution over the years. Currently, Polytank is the only water storage brand that has over two hundred sales outlets across the country, making sure that its products are readily available even in the farthest district of the country.
Building a very strong dealership network has helped to improve access to water in both urban and rural communities in Ghana. This is because consumers do not need to travel long distances to purchase storage tanks which can sometimes discourage them. This has also gone a long-way to help reduce preventable water and sanitation-related diseases in the country.
Nearly seven to eight out of 10 households have a Polytank for water storage. Assuming that the number of people living in each household is five, then Polytank is providing access to clean water for about 35 to 40 people daily in a particular location.
The rippling effect of 20 Polytanks in a particular community is that at least a 100 people have been provided with daily access to clean water for their various purposes. Per the assumption above, Polytank’s commitment of helping Ghanaians to have access to clean and sustainable water supply is being achieved on a daily basis in homes, businesses and the community at large.
Investments in infrastructural developments
Another area Polytank is helping to improve access to water in Ghana is the introduction of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies that helps to produce water storage products that are affordable and suits the pockets of all classes of the economy.
As an industrial leader, Polytank was the first to introduce the Blow Moulding Technology for producing water storage tanks in Ghana in 2016. This technology helps to save costs on labour and energy to the benefit of the consumer. By so doing, Polytank has been able to produce water tanks that are less expensive and meet the needs of the Ghanaian who is in need of clean water.
Apart from skills and technology transfer, Polytank has also expanded its operations by building a factory in the Ashanti Region to bring its products closer to consumers in the Middle and Northern belt of the country without delays or shortages.
Corporate Responsibility
As a socially responsible brand, Polytank prides itself in improving access to potable water to marginalized groups and institutions through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
Being the lead producer of durable water storage tanks in Ghana, Polytank believes that access to clean water for all humans is a right. The role of clean water in ensuring good health, proper sanitation and improved livelihoods is a daily reality.
Annually Polytanks spends more than a GH¢100,000 in tank donations to government and educational institutions, international NGOs, rural communities among others.
Beneficiaries of our benevolence have included the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana Fire Service, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Infanta Malaria Prevention Foundation and the Wesley Girls Senior High School. Others are the Kwahu Hwidiem, Dampong and Asuboa communities in the Eastern and Ashanti Regions as well as the Operation Smile Medical Missions in Ghana.
More than 10,000 Ghanaians have so far benefited from Polytank’s policy of helping improve access to water.
Protecting the Environment
Polytank believes that its activities have a huge and lasting impact on the health of the environment. Apart from implementing good manufacturing practices that reduce energy consumption and minimize waste, Polytank is also helping to prevent environmental pollution.
Plastic pollution in lakes and rivers have become a common phenomenon because of uncontrolled dumping of plastics into fresh water.
In order to help reduce plastic waste in the environment, Polytank, through the Mohinani Group’s Waste Management and Recycling initiative (Corporate Social Responsibility) is helping to prevent plastic littering through recycling for school children. The brand believes that children are the future and it is imperative that they get involved in shaping their own future.
The beneficiary school children are educated to become eco heroes or ambassadors for a cleaner, healthier and greener environment. Through various environmental seminars the pupils are given orientation on waste collection and segregation by providing them with dustbins and poly bags. The schools with the huge amount waste are rewarded after a period of three months.
Since its inception four years ago, over 20,000 school pupils in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions have participated in the programme with about 30 tonnes of recyclables (plastics and papers) collected in their various schools and communities. The Group has also invested more than 20,000 US dollars in the initiative since its inception.
As the world celebrates World Water Day today, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the water sector to double their efforts in removing obstacles that hinder access to sustainable water and its management for all Ghanaians in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 6.
There is also the need for a sustainable and customized approach that can be easily be adopted and implemented by manufacturers to help protect our fresh water resources from human pollution especially plastics.
Polytank is committed to this and is showing the way.
Polytank Ghana Team Makes a Splash at the RPERT Conference
The Polytank Ghana team made a big splash at the recent Renewable Plastic Energy & Recycling Technology (RPERT) conference, held in Ghana. The conference brought together industry leaders, experts, and practitioners from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in renewable plastics, energy, and recycling technologies.
The Polytank Ghana team was well-represented at the conference, with several team members giving presentations and participating in panel discussions. In addition, the team had a booth at the conference expo, where they showcased their latest products and technologies.
The Restaurant Managers Award Initiative was created by Masco Foods' General Manager, John Swanepoel, in 2022 to recognize staff. The second event was held in December 2023.
The 2023 Awards and Recognition event for Restaurant General Managers (RGM) of KFC Ghana was held on Friday,12th January to celebrate the achievement of No.1 leaders and above store leaders in KFC Ghana. Notable for this year’s awards ceremony, winners were awarded with an all-expense paid trip to Cape Town South Africa, to attend the 2024 No. 1 LEADERS Conference, taking place from 21st to 23rd April, 2024.
KFC Catering Services was established to facilitate Ghanaians in serving our meals at their everyday cultural and lifestyle events. Ghana is a culturally sensitive country that values the key events of a life cycle, such as marriage, birth, and death, where feasting is a common practice. To cater to all kinds of functions, including office programs, diplomatic functions, funerals, weddings, parties, and more, we offer catering and bulk delivery services. In 2023, we served top clients such as the American Embassy and MTN Ghana. To place an order, customers can simply call us on 0593879889. This is a part of our strategic plan to make our brand more community-oriented and create more growth opportunities for our business.