Ghana: Tourism Ministry Launches National Chocolate Day

Minister for Tourism, Miss Catherine Afeku

GHANA - The Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Afeku on Thursday January 25th launched the 2018 National Chocolate Day in Accra, the nation's capital.

The National Chocolate Day scheduled for February 14, which is celebrated worldwide as Valentine’s Day is designated for the eating of chocolate made in Ghana as part of efforts to promote of Ghana made goods is packed with activities.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister applauded the various stakeholders for their support for her outfit.

‘I am happy we have been able to gradually curb indecent attitudes on 14th February with the introduction of the National Chocolate day and it is an event that is travelling beyond the borders of Ghana but we need to beef it up,” she said.

Catherine Afeku disclosed that, the Tourism Ministry has formulated two policy guidelines to support agencies under the ministry to “aggressively” promote domestic tourism as well as the consumption of cocoa.

“As we’ve noticed in other jurisdiction, as you turn down the bed you’ll see a little chocolate by the bed, we can enjoy some cut-off so we ask hotels to serve their guests with chocolate and that is a very seamless way of marketing our cocoa,” she averred.

Speaking on the theme for the celebration “Eat Ghana, Eat Chocolate” the Minister urged all to emulate the habit of buying chocolate for loved ones and not only wait till its National Chocolate Day.

Cocoa is the chief agricultural export of Ghana and the country's main cash crop. Behind Ivory Coast, Ghana is the second largest cocoa exporter in the world. Instead of selling raw cocoa for export, the country now hope to make it chocolate just as iconic as its cocoa.

Excerpts of this news article were taken from Ghanaweb.com