Accra, Nov. 2, GNA - The Chocolate and Cocoa Association of Japan on Thursday appealed to Ghanaian authorities to take immediate steps to reverse the excessive agro-chemical residues found in some cocoa beans exported to the Asian country.

Mr Naotada Sato, Chairman of the Association who made this known to the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama in Accra at the head of a 16-member delegation, said so far his country had rejected 2,000 metric tons of Ghana's beans as a result of stringent measures being taken to ensure product quality.

He said public awareness about the health values of cocoa products had created a huge market in his country.

Mr Naotada said 70 per cent of about 60,000 tons of the beans imported this year and the 56,000 tons purchased in 2005 came from Ghana.

Alhaji Mahama assured the delegation that Ghana would do everything possible to ensure the quality of its products that had been acknowledged worldwide.

He asked Japan to consider importing sheabutter from Ghana as part of measures to diversify trade and commerce between the two countries.