As part of the partnership, the Ghana Exports Promotion Authority (GEPA) has sponsored a select group of indigenous Ghanaian artisanal chocolatiers to Johannesburg to showcase made in Ghana chocolates in the upcoming three-day WineX show at the Sandton Convention Centre.

The Ghanaian chocolatiers were selected to present selected premium Ghanaian chocolates in pairing with South African Wines with the objective of strengthening the competitive position of Ghana cocoa and cocoa based products in Africa.

It is also in furtherance to the objective to create market access for Ghanaian chocolate brands in South Africa.

The selected Ghanaian chocolate brands to feature at WineX 2022 are: Allsave Chocolates, Sekoe Chocolates, Niche Chocolates, Bioko Treats, Adansi Sweets, Kabi Chocolates, Honico Chocolates, Rhocece Chocolates.

Limitless opportunities

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEPA, Dr Afua Asabea Asare, in an interview with the media at Johannesburg, expressed optimism on the limitless opportunities for Ghanaian cocoa products to become globally competitive thus the investments being made by the GEPA to support the chocolatiers in the exploration of international markets such as South Africa.

She thanked Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Charles Asuako Owiredu for his instrumental role in facilitating and ensuring the success of this innovative project and the invaluable support the Ghana Mission in Pretoria under played in ensuring the success of this trade mission.

She further challenged the Ghanaian chocolatiers to use this opportunity to explore the value-added demand offerings for cocoa-based products in South Africa and Africa in general.

Dr Asare was optimistic about Ghana’s participation in the future editions of WineX as another export market for Ghana’s cocoa industry to become an innovative industry leader when the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement was fully implemented to promote intra-African trade.