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The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), in partnership with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), has launched this year’s National Chocolate Day.
The day, which falls on February 14, was instituted by the Ministry of Tourism in 2005 in collaboration with GTA, COCOBOD and Cocoa Processing Company and other stakeholders to create awareness of the health benefits of cocoa-based chocolate products.
This year’s event, which is on the theme: “My chocolate experience, My holistic well-being”, would also be used to promote the consumption of Ghanaian chocolate and an increase in domestic tourism.
At the launch of the event yesterday at the Accra Tourist Information Centre, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, said it was important for all Ghanaians to promote the consumption of made in Ghana chocolate and cocoa-based products and also position cocoa and the chocolate experience as a strong element of the Ghana tourism experience.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Chairperson of the GTA, Ms Adelaide Ahwireng, said the consumption of chocolate locally was largely successful and “the National Chocolate Day is now an important feature of the tourism calendar of events.”
The Deputy Executive Director of Finance and Administration of the GTA, Mr Isaac Adomako-Mensah, expressed appreciation for the support of some sponsors including Alisa Hotels and Stedna School of Baking and Confectionary.
“I wish to urge all to participate in the main celebration on 14th February and also encourage all Ghanaians to use chocolate as a symbol of love by eating a bar of chocolate and also using chocolate and other cocoa-based products as gifts for their loved ones and relations,” Mr Adomako-Mensah stated.
The Marketing Manager of the country’s largest chocolate producer CPC, Nana Agyeman Ansong, stated that cocoa from Ghana was known as the best in the world and that chocolate from the country had also become a national cultural identity.
Activities for the celebration include a cocoa art competition, which starts on Monday, February 10, this year, where artists would submit paintings depicting the “Cocoa story”, to the Accra Tourist Information Centre.
There will also be “My Chocolate Experience” at the Cocoa Clinic, North Kaneshie in Accra, on Wednesday, February 12, this year, where chocolate and other cocoa products would be shared to the patients and staff.
The 2020 National Chocolate Day will be observed at the Alisa Hotel on Friday, February 14, 2020.
