... Today is Ghana National Chocolate Day
Today is Saint Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day. It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other; sending Valentine's cards or candy. It is very common to present flowers on Valentine's Day. The 'holiday' is named after two men, both Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid.

Approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas.

A day for all to eat chocolate

Ghana is observing the first Chocolate Day today. February 14 is universally known as Saint Valentine’s Day, but the government has adopted it as a National Chocolate Day to boost the consumption and sale of cocoa.

On January 9, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, announced that St. Valentine’s Day, celebrated worldwide as day of expressing love, is to assume an added significance in Ghana as National Chocolate Day with the aim of promoting consumption of Made-in-Ghana chocolates.

"If countries like Japan and South Korea are encouraging promotion and consumption of Ghanaian chocolate, why can’t we also do the same?" he asked.

As part of the activities marking the day, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey will lead a group of chocolate producers in the country to distribute confectionery to inmates of the Osu Children’s Home.

This will be followed by the ‘Opening of Chocolate’ at Chocolate Avenue, Osu, after which the Minister will attend a Special Valentine’s Day Show at Golden Tulip, to be telecast live on Ghana Television.

The day will be rounded off with a dinner at La Beach Hotel to be organised by the Ghana Chefs Association.
As a prelude to the day, Choice FM last Saturday, organised a chocolate pool party at Shangrila Hotel. The Ghana Chefs Association demonstrated the preparation of chocolate dishes at home on GTV Breakfast Show. There was also a TV3 discussion programme on chocolate.
Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey said since the January 9, launch of the day, a number of events had taken place. He commended the media for taking the issue on board by creating public awareness of the importance of cocoa and chocolate.
The Minister noted that the cocoa industry was the pillar of the economy in the 20th century, and was optimistic that tourism can take that position in the 21st century.