The second edition of Ghana’s National Chocolate Week has been launched by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
The event was held at the forecourt of the Tetteh Quarshie Farm at Akuapem Mampong and attracted traditional authorities from the area, government officials, board members, directors, and workers from both GTA and COCOBOD and the media.
This year’s event will be under the theme: “Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy, Grow Ghana” and sub themed: “Our Chocolate, Our Health, Our Wealth”.
The institution of the National Chocolate Day in 2005 which was changed to a week-long celebration from last year has become a key event on Ghana’s tourism calendar. The celebration has the objective to promote the domestic consumption of Ghana chocolate and other cocoa-based products, highlight the health benefits of chocolate and other cocoa-based products, and the economic potential of the cocoa value chain while promoting domestic tourism.
Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah noted that the celebration of the national chocolate week has helped government inch closer to its 1Kg per capita for consumption of chocolate within the short to medium term.
“Government is committed to making chocolate the gift of choice not only Valentine’s Day but for all occasions,” he added.
GTA CEO, Akwasi Agyeman said the event would celebrate and honour the visionary role played by Tetteh Quarshie and Jake Obstebi Lamptey for introducing cocoa and instituting the chocolate day respectively.
Osaberima Kwame Otu Darteh III, Mamponghene charged government to make cocoa more relevant to the area which is the birthplace of commercial cocoa farming. He urged GTA and COCOBOD to expedite actions to furnish the Cocoa Museum which was inaugurated a year ago to open the area up for tourism activities.
Ray Ankrah, Deputy COCOBOD CEO in charge of Finance and Administration said his outfit will continue to promote the consumption of cocoa-based products as they guarantee happiness combined with good health and wealth creation.
Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, Herbert Krapa revealed that government was introducing programmes to scale up cocoa production and maximize value addition to the produce. This, he said was to position Ghana to fully benefit from the global chocolate industry which currently stands in excess of $44 billion.
The 2022 National Tourism Day will have Accra and Kumasi as the epicentres of the celebrations with activities earmarked expected to take place simultaneously in both cities. The activities include but not limited to:
• Cocoa Health Walk on the Aburi Mountains
• A float with the Double-decker City tour through some principal streets in Accra
• Engagement with Basic School students
• Durbar and Exhibition of Chocolate and cocoa based products at the Chococity, Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout and at the Rattray Park in Kumasi
The 2022 National Chocolate Week will commence from 5th to 14th, February. Highlife musician Kwabena Kwabena and the Ghana Dance Ensemble were at the launch to entertain patrons.
Story by: Samuel Obeng Appah
