The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in collaboration with World Cocoa Foundation has shared a variety of chocolate products with some Cocoa Farmer Cooperatives in various cocoa-growing Regions as part of this year’s National Chocolate Day celebration.
In an interaction with the farmers on Tuesday, February 14, the Executive Director for the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), Rev Edwin Afari encouraged them to consume cocoa-based products and join the campaign for local consumption, to help boost the country’s cocoa sector.
Rev. Afari also commended cocoa farmers for their continued adherence to the good agronomy practice that has helped maintain the country’s premium quality on the international market
“Ghana still maintains the premium quality standard because of the good practices you adhere to, please continue with it”, he advised.
Rev. Afari further encouraged the farmers to capitalize on COCOBOD’s productivity Enhancement Programmes (PEPs) to help increase the country’s cocoa production levels.
The Country Director for World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), Dr Betty Annan highlighted the need for Cocoa Farmers in the country to appreciate and consume the final product of their hard work.
“Farmers work day-in day-out but the purchasing level of the final products is low, that is why we are celebrating the 2023 chocolate day with them in their respective communities” she emphasized.
She said the WCF shares in the agenda of COCOBOD to encourage farmers to develop a taste for cocoa-based products.
Adding on, Dr. Annan stressed on the need for local chocolate processors to build on the platform created to promote their products, in order to help boost the county’s consumption drive.
“I believe this is a good platform to rally behind COCOBOD’s agenda to boost the country’s chocolate consumption drive”, she added.
The team also visited some selected public schools in the region where they shared chocolate and a variety of cocoa-based products with the pupils and their teachers.
The donation was part of a series of programmes Ghana COCOBOD and some collaborating agencies organized in celebration of the 2023 National Chocolate Week.
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