Accra, Oct. 12, GNA - The Minister of Trade, Ms Hanna Tetteh, on at the weekend launched the First Annual Cocoa-chocolate Festival Celebrations and affirmed government's commitment to improving the living conditions of cocoa farmers.

The event was organized by Centuries International Cocoa-Chocolate Festival Organization (CICCFO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Tourisms, Ghana Chefs Association, and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, among others, and attracted hundreds of pupils from first cycle schools in Accra.

Ms Tetteh said government would undertake projects that would focus on the improvement of the lives of cocoa farmers, whose produce earns Ghana the much needed foreign exchange inflows. Government would also see to the institution of the Cocoa Farmers Insurance Scheme and provide solar-powered electricity for farmers throughout the country.

Mr Ben Amponsah-Fordjour, Executive Chairman of CICCFO, who briefed the gathering on the festival, said the organization would form a subsidiary to produce chocolate and other cocoa by products. Through this, Mr Amponsah-Fordjour said, CICCFO aims at creating some 3,000 job opportunities for thousands of Ghanaian youth through the sale of the company's products, which range from chocolate to booster or unsweetened cocoa beverages and pastries that provide enormous health benefits.

Professor Frederick Addai, Head of the Anatomy Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana, Legon, and originator of Ghana's Booster Cocoa, provides countless benefits of unsweetened cocoa beverage, which he calls Goodfood Cocoa Powder. The beverage promotes superlative health by strengthening your immune system via its aroma, and antioxidant content. This enables consumers to ward off many diseases, particularly viral ailments such as cold and flu, and to cope with stress and stay happy. Goodfood cocoa also facilitates good digestive system functions and bowel movement, increases one's exercise tolerance and ability to do physical activities; optimizes heart, lung, and brain functions; and slows down 'wear and tear' in the body, thereby keeping one younger, and maintaining one's blood cholesterol at normal levels and in good proportions.

The 10-day event continues this week with the introduction of more pupils from first cycle schools to booster cocoa drinks, biscuits and pastries. Other attractions of the event, which is scheduled to run through all cocoa regions and districts of the country, will include dance competitions and group wedding for family members of cocoa farmers. CICCFO has also received the nod from the Ministry of Tourism to hold the Annual Chocolate Day with effect from 2010. CICCFO is a Ghanaian non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sale of cocoa-based products through small shops to provide employment opportunities for the youth.

It will focus on private sector participation in the processing of Ghana's cocoa beans into finished products such as chocolate, assorted beverages, pastries, lotions, wines, creams, soaps and vinegar. One of the principal aims of CICCFO is to make Ghana the best cocoa tourism destination in Africa through the promotion and growth of the cocoa industry.