With the onset of HIV, GSMF hopes to make its brands of condoms available everywhere at all times. This is why GSMF has teamed up with Nestle to work with two associations formed and managed by Nestle. These two groups are Maggi Fast Foodsellers Association of Ghana (MAFFAG) popularly known as “Check Check”, and NESTAG, Nestle Tea Sellers Association of Ghana. The members of these groups can be found in all regions of Ghana providing food to a large percentage of the populace. These vendors work long hours and typically stay open until the early hours of the morning.
Nestle organizes product usage workshops to educate NESTAG and MAFFAG members on Nestle brands, good hygiene and other issues to help grow the business. GSMF’s role in this programme is to educate the members about HIV/AIDS and other STIs and to show them how they can help fight the pandemic with condom sales to their late night customers.
Most traditional outlets for selling condoms are closed at the time these people are working. A majority of Ghanaian youth and other people who are around town late at night patronize these joints. There are about 10,000 people in these two associations and many more vendors are not registered. In addition, there are also traditional food sellers who run the various chop bars. Another outlet for condom distribution is the drinking bars. There are about 15,000 drinking bars in Ghana with a lot of them in highly populated area and they also work late into the night.
