The Ghana Tourism Authority GTA) in partnership with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) have launched this year’s National Chocolate Day.
National Chocolate Day which falls on February 14 each year was instituted by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in collaboration with Ghana Tourism Authority and Cocoa Processing Company, Ghana Cocoa Board and other stakeholders in 2005, to create awareness on the need for Ghanaians to patronise cocoa products and to help generate more revenue for national development.
The initiative is also deliberately planned to coincide with Valentine’s Day on which occasion more people are believed to consume chocolate and other cocoa products.
This year’s event is on the theme, “My Chocolate Experience, My Holistic Wellbeing,” which organisers are hoping will help drive the promotion of chocolate and the generic consumption of cocoa in Ghana and the rest of the world.
At the launch today at the Accra Information Centre, Deputy GTA CEO in Charge of Finance and Administration, Isaac Adomako-Mensah said the Chocolate Day celebration has become an important event on the Authority’s calendar of activities, owing to the enormous benefits it brings to the local chocolate industry and tourism.
Deputy COCOBOD Director in Charge of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Owusu Manu said that his outfit will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to create awareness of the nutritional and economic benefits of chocolate and other cocoa products.
He added that COCOBOD is working to ensure that the country processes at least 50% of all cocoa produced in Ghana which currently stands at 35%.
Marketing Manager of CPC, Nana Agyeman Ansong expressed great delight in the institution of the Chocolate Day, stating that, the event could not have been celebrated in a better place given Ghana’s reputation as the producer of the finest cocoa beans and chocolates in the world.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture in a speech read on her behalf by GTA Board Chairperson, Adelaide Ahwireng urged Ghanaians to “patronize our made in Ghana chocolate and especially use chocolate as a gift of love to our friends, families and loved ones during the National Chocolate Day Celebration.
Activities for the celebration of the National Chocolate Day have begun with a digital campaign by the GTA. Other activities include: a cocoa art competition, a visit to the Cocoa Clinic in Accra, among others.
The 2020 National Chocolate Day will be observed at the Alisa Hotel on February 14.
