Ghana Promotes Cocoa Industry with National Chocolate Day Celebrations

Accra: Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, has called upon Ghanaians to embrace the tradition of exchanging chocolates with friends, family, and loved ones as a means of promoting the patronage of cocoa products. The statement was made on the floor of Parliament on Friday in celebration of National Chocolate Day.According to Ghana News Agency, Dzifa Gomashie expressed her appreciation for the efforts of cocoa farmers, processors, and other key players within the cocoa supply chain, acknowledging their significant contributions to economic growth. The week-long event is themed 'Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy and Grow Ghana,' with a sub-theme of 'Chocolate is for All; Eat, Taste, Share and Care.'National Chocolate Day, which aligns with Valentine's Day, was introduced in 2007 to raise awareness of the health benefits of cocoa and to encourage sustainable consumption of cocoa products. As part of this year's festivities, Golden Tree Chocolate bars will be distributed to passengers and tourists arriving at Kotoka International Airport to promote the Ghanaian chocolate brand.In addition, a chocolate tree stand will be set up at the offices of the Ghana Tourism Authority to provide free chocolate drinks to staff and visitors. The celebration will conclude with a float through the main streets of Accra, culminating in a durbar at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.Madam Dzifa Gomashie emphasized Ghana's rich cocoa heritage, highlighting the importance of cocoa to the country's economy and culture. She encouraged the use of the season to exchange chocolates as a unique gesture of love while promoting locally made chocolates.The minister also noted that celebrating Chocolate Day would help foster unity, national pride, and the promotion of domestic tourism, while also stressing the importance of fair trade practices in the cocoa industry.