The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), joined by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and Cocoa Processing Company, sealed the week-long National Chocolate Week celebrations in grand style today, February 14, 2024, at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra.
Stakeholders within the tourism, hospitality, and cocoa sectors concluded the celebrations with displays of rich Ghanaian products, ranging from Ghana-made chocolate to locally crafted jewelry and clothing. The event aimed to highlight the prominence of Ghana’s cocoa and the premium taste of locally produced chocolate.
The keynote address was delivered by the Minister for Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, who described the celebrations as part of the NDC administration’s flagship policy for Ghana’s tourism and creative arts space, The Blackstar Experience, designed to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage. She emphasized that Ghana’s cocoa is more than an economic asset, calling it a symbol of national pride. “By celebrating National Chocolate Day, we are not only promoting the local chocolate industry but also showcasing the best of Ghanaian culture and hospitality,” she said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto, expressed her excitement about participating in this year’s National Chocolate Week celebrations. In her debut public speech, she highlighted Ghana’s cocoa sector as a vital component of the country’s tourism experience, bringing attention to Ghana-made chocolate. “Research has shown that travelers eat and drink local products when they are away from home or their usual places of residence and have the desire to sample dishes other than their own. Chocolate can therefore become the central lure for tourists who seek exotic foods,” she explained.
The Deputy Director of Research at the Ghana Cocoa Board, Michael Ekow Amoah, commended the Ghana Tourism Authority and other stakeholders for their consistent promotion of Ghana’s cocoa and its processed products. He acknowledged Ghana’s esteemed position as a leading producer of premium cocoa, a strength that supports the mission of the Ghana Cocoa Board.
Beyond increasing domestic patronage of cocoa products, he revealed that the Ghana Cocoa Board aims to expand the export of processed cocoa products. “The focus is to move from just exporting raw beans and implement measures that will lead to an increase in the export of cocoa-based and processed products,” he stated.
The event also featured a creative painting session that celebrated Ghana’s rich cocoa heritage, captivating attendees and concluding with laughter and socialization. This highlighted cocoa’s potential to promote unity and bring joy.
The 2025 National Chocolate Week, themed ‘Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy, Grow Ghana’, aimed to emphasize the value of Ghana’s processed cocoa products, especially chocolate, through various nationwide activities. This year, GTA, COCOBOD, and the Cocoa Processing Company collaborated with the government, tourism and hospitality stakeholders, and the public under the campaign ‘Chocolate for All: Taste, Share, and Care’ to elevate the patronage of Ghana’s chocolate locally and internationally
By: Kobina Baidoo
