The Ghana Cocoa Board has formed a National Cocoa Consumption Committee to help create awareness and boost the local consumption of cocoa.

Ghana’s cocoa consumption rate stands at 0.5 per cent kilos per capital although it is the second largest producer of the crop in the world.

Mr Kwabena Asante Poku, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board, said this when he briefed journalists on upcoming National Cocoa Fair schedule for September 28.

He said though Ghanaians are aware of the vital role that cocoa had played in the socio-economic development of Ghana, many are still not acquainted with the enormous health benefits of “this priceless commodity when they consume it”.

He said some research carried out on the health and nutritional benefits of cocoa had revealed that pathological conditions, cancers, heart diseases, male erectile problems and diabetes among others, could be reduced with the regular consumption of the commodity.

Mr Noah Amenyah, Public Affairs Manager at the Ghana Cocoa Board, said activities for the Fair would include health walk in some of the principal streets of Accra and health outreach programme to be organized in memory of Tetteh Quarshie, who introduced cocoa to the country.

He said there would be a grand durbar of farmers to be addressed by the Vice President Mr Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur which is besides a health screening to be carried out free of charge.