By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, Feb.15, GNA – Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has encouraged Ghanaians to share chocolates with friends, family members and loved ones to promote the patronage of cocoa products.
In a statement read on the floor of Parliament on Friday, to mark the National Chocolate Day, Madam Dzifa Gomashie congratulated cocoa farmers, processors, and actors within the cocoa supply value chain for the pivotal roles they had played in promoting economic growth.
The week-long celebration was on the theme, “Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy and Grow Ghana” with the sub-theme, “Chocolate is for All; Eat, Taste, Share and Care”.
The inception of the National Chocolate Day, which coincides with Valentine’s Day, began in 2007, intended to create awareness of the health benefits of cocoa and to promote sustainable patronage of cocoa products.
As part of the celebration, Madam Dzifa Gomashie said Golden Tree Chocolate bars would be given to passengers and tourists arriving at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to promote the Ghanaian chocolate brand.
Also, a chocolate tree stand would be mounted across Offices of the Ghana Tourism Authority to supply free chocolate drinks to staff and visitors of the Authority.
Madam Dzifa Gomashie announced that the celebration would be climaxed with a float on the principal streets of Accra and end it with a durbar at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
“We’re celebrating Ghana’s rich cocoa heritage because cocoa is a pivotal component of our economy and culture.
“Let’s use the season to give chocolates to friends, family members and loved ones. It is a unique opportunity to show love and promote Ghanaian brand of chocolates,” she said.
The minister indicated that celebrating chocolate day would foster unity, national pride and promote domestic tourism and underscored the need for fair trade in the cocoa industry.
GNA