The Ghana Tourism Authority has celebrated Chocolate Day with some activities in Accra. The program which was held at the premises of the Ghana Tourism Authority was under the theme “Eat Ghana, Eat Chocolate”

Some activities which marked the celebration included Cultural performances, interschool competitions on tourism, addresses by some dignitaries, chocolate product exhibitions, cooking competitions and many more.

Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Afeku, praised Tetteh Quarshie for discovering cocoa from Fernando Po and bringing it to Ghana.

Some cocoa products on exhibition included the Golden Tree Chocolate and drinks, Takai drinks, Aspire Chocolate, Chocolate wine among others.

Launching new Golden Tree brands of chocolate, CEO of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo stressed some important health benefits of cocoa. He also entreated the youth to consume more chocolate in order to improve their memory.

History of the Celebration

The National Chocolate Day Celebration was instituted by the Ghana Tourism Authority under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism in 2005 by the late Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey in order to change the perception of the celebration of Valentine’s Day to the promotion and consumption of made in Ghana chocolate and cocoa based products.

Also, it was to create awareness for Ghanaians to appreciate health benefits of chocolate and to promote Ghana as the preferred chocolate destination.