By Laudia Sawer,
Tema, July 04, GNA – The Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) has observed this year’s World Chocolate Day with a maiden ‘Alltime Inter-School Competition’ to create awareness of the importance of cocoa to the total health of humans.
School children from the Datus Complex School, First Star Academy, Deks Educational Institute, and Creator Schools engaged in fun activities and competitions, including dancing, artwork, poetry, the Alltime jingle, and a food fair, among others.
Nana Agyemang Ansong, the Sales and Marketing Manager for the Cocoa Processing Company, addressing the schoolchildren, said World Chocolate Day is observed annually on July 7 to promote the consumption of chocolate products.
He said Ghana’s presence must be felt globally as the second world cocoa producer, saying the love of chocolate, which brings people together as a symbol of joy, togetherness, and happiness, must be promoted.
He encouraged them to consume cocoa products, especially the company’s Alltime Chocolate Drink, to derive all the nutritional benefits from it.
He said they hoped to annually hold the inter-school competition to unearth talents among the students and contribute to the development of the youth while using the day to remind them of the rich heritage behind its products.
Mr Michael Ekow Amoah, the Deputy Director of Research and Development assigned to the Ministry of Finance, educated the students on the value chain of cocoa and value addition and provided them with the history of Tetteh Quarshie, bringing cocoa beans to Ghana from Fernando po in Equatorial Guinea.
Mr Amoah said that while the farmers plant the seeds, the Cocoa Research Institute research various varieties, while other institutions see to the distribution of seedlings and the buying of the cocoa beans, with COCOBOD having a mandate on the cocoa value chain.
Mr Thomas Asante, an official of the CPC, reminded the public that cocoa has a lot of nutrients and antioxidants, which help with brain development, blood circulation, and menstrual pains and give instant energy, among other benefits; therefore, they must ensure they consume it daily.
The schoolchildren were treated to free chilled Alltime chocolate drinks to whip up their interest in chocolate products, while well-performing schools and students in the various competitions received certificates and CPC Golden Tree products.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade