By Rachel Kakraba
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo says chocolate and other cocoa-related products consumption in Ghana is low, despite being a cocoa producing country. To this extent, he says COCOBOD is embarking on a sensitization drive to ensure maximum utilization and consumption of cocoa which will ultimately benefit the Ghanaian farmer.
“At the moment consumption of cocoa is very low, we are just around zero point -five three and if we compare ourselves to Europe, we are far below, so there is the need to for us to improve upon the consumption of chocolate”
Mr. Aidoo was speaking at the opening of the “chocolate city project, in Accra. The project which is underway in Kumasi and Accra from 8th to 14th February forms part of activities to mark National Cocoa week ahead of the cocoa day celebrations on the 14th of February. The programme is the initiative of COCOBOD, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC).
It is an avenue to showcase various products, such as chocolate drinks, alcoholic beverages, spices among others made up of Ghana’s premium cocoa.
Mr. Aidoo said, to ensure farmers benefit from their labour, COCOBOD is also spearheading the free distribution of chocolate-based products and chocolates to some farmers and their families. Describing the National Chocolate City, as a city of wealth, health and happiness. He said consumption of cocoa has many health benefits and called on public and private institutions to support COCOBOD’s efforts at increasing the consumption of cocoa products by gifting clients with cocoa products.
“COCOBOD on our part has purchased based products and chocolates and are about to distribute them freely to some of our farmers and their families. We are calling on all stakeholders including institutions in the public and private sector such as banks, telecommunications companies as well as churches to gift cocoa products to their customers and clients”
Mr. Aidoo said the chocolate week celebration is part of COCOBOD’s board strategic plan to promote cocoa consumption by making it a daily food for every Ghanaian household.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyemang, said other areas of chocolate tourism are being explored. He added there are plans to ensure the Tetteh Quarshie Farm in the Eastern Region, becomes the most visited tourist destination in the world.
“Chocolate Tourism is another area that we can look at and so we will be looking at the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa farm as an attraction that can bring more people as we continue our domestic tourism drive”.
Visitors at the fair will be entertained to live band music, cocoa products giveaway, quiz competition among many others.
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