The Acting Chief Executive Officer of GIHOC Distilleries, Mr. Jones Borteye Applerh, has expressed concern over the company's growing staff numbers, which he says are not translating into increased productivity.

Speaking on the current challenges facing the state-owned distillery, Mr. Applerh noted that while the number of employees has risen significantly, output has declined—raising serious questions about operational efficiency.

“In 2020, GIHOC had a staff strength of about 270 and produced approximately 625,000 cartons for the year. However, by 2024, despite staff numbers increasing to 520, production dropped sharply to 275,000 cartons,” he revealed in comments cited by Citi News.

He described the situation as unsustainable, particularly in light of the company’s mounting debt burden, which now exceeds GH¢427 million. The debt includes unpaid taxes, loans, pension arrears, and other obligations.

Given the dire financial state of the company, the CEO indicated that retrenchment may be necessary to align the workforce with current production levels and reduce operational costs.

“To stabilise GIHOC’s finances and return to profitability, we must not only invest in equipment upgrades and restructure our debt, but also ensure our staffing reflects actual output needs,” Mr. Applerh stated.

He emphasised that decisive action is required to bring the company back on track, noting, “We certainly need to rationalise our operations and ensure our cost structure is one we can sustain.”

The remarks follow a series of recent disclosures by the CEO outlining a broader roadmap for reviving the once-thriving distillery.

These include restoring production lines, rebranding flagship products, and revamping infrastructure to support long-term growth.