As part of efforts to encourage the consumption of chocolate, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has launched the 2021 National Chocolate Week.
The 2021 edition, which is under the theme: “Eat Chocolate; Stay Healthy; Grow Ghana”.
will start from February 8 and will climax on Valentine’s Day, which is the 14th.
COCOBOD is seeking to use the event to promote the consumption of chocolate confectionery, beverages, and chocolate-infused dishes.
Delivering a speech at the launch, the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo explained that the ultimate aim of the National Chocolate Week is to encourage the local processing of cocoa to increase its consumption and also create jobs.
He stated that COCOBOD will use the event to highlight the various channels available for local investors who wish to enter the cocoa processing industry.
Mr. Boahen Aidoo pointed out that the aim of COCOBOD is to hit 50 percent cocoa processing in Ghana.
He stated that government’s aim is to ultimately increase the role Ghana plays in the cocoa value chain to enable farmers benefit from the production of cocoa beans.
“We have great support from our cocoa farmers and other stakeholders within the cocoa value chain and I would like to seize this opportunity to commend our illustrious farmers in particular for their efforts at producing the best quality cocoa for the confectionery market the world over,” he said.
To encourage the consumption of chocolate among the youth, two chocolate songs by musicians, Amarado and Kofi Kinaata were also launched.
Launching the celebration on behalf of Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Minister of Information-designate, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said there is the need to promote local consumption of chocolate since cocoa has positively impacted Ghana’s economy.
“Every Ghanaian, in one way or the other, derives benefit from cocoa. From foreign exchange earning to employment, food and beverages, cosmetics to the provision of social and infrastructural amenities, the cocoa business is one that can best be described as an essential and robust one with several untapped opportunities.”
“I have been told that Ghana’s current per capita consumption hovers around 0.52kg whereas elsewhere on the globe, and mainly among non-cocoa producing countries, per capita consumption ranges between 3-11kg,”he added.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said government is ready to support entrepreneurs and investors interested in cocoa processing and value-addition.
The National Chocolate Week was organised through the collaborative effort of COCOBOD, the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, and cocoa processing companies.
