First National Chocolate Day celebrated

Accra, Feb. 14, GNA - Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, on Wednesday presented chocolates and other cocoa products to the Osu Children's Home as part of the celebration of the first ever National Chocolate Day.

The occasion, which also coincided with the Valentine Day celebrations, brought together stakeholders in the cocoa industry, including Mr Isaac Osei, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana COCOBOD, Mr Henry Duranton, Managing Director of Nestle Ghana Limited, officials from the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) and members of the Ghana Chefs Association.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey, who personally joined in sharing small bars of assorted golden tree chocolates to all the people gathered said the National Chocolate Day celebration was being celebrated on Valentine Day to tell the world that love was not just lust or carnality but sharing with the less privileged in society.

"We need to re-orient the day in such a way that it is dedicated to real love which is sharing. The best way one can get love in this world is to show love," he said.

He expressed gratitude to everybody who had in one way or the other contributed to make the day a success, with special commendation to the media for promoting the day in various ways.

The Minister also officially opened a centre dubbed: "Chocolate Avenue" where all cocoa products as well as a cocoa museum were on display for chocolate and cocoa lovers.

Mr Isaac Osei, who pledged his support for the National Chocolate Day celebration said it was important to celebrate cocoa and chocolate and noted that cocoa was an important tourist product but until now there was no effort to promote it.

Mr Duranton spoke about the health benefits of cocoa and said that sale of cocoa products had gone up because of the celebration of the National Chocolate Day.

Mr Ekow Rhule of CPC said the day was an opportunity for his company to make the best chocolate in the world and repeated that Ghana's cocoa was the best in the world.

Mr Ebenezer Amartefio, Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department, lauded the initiative of the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations and said the day used to be a day where young people had their first sexual experience.

He commended the Minister for choosing the Osu Children's Home saying, "The home is where love is needed most."

Mr John Ankrah, Acting Director of the Social Welfare Department, who received the products, said children were influenced by what they heard and saw and expressed the hope that the National Chocolate Day celebration would end irresponsible ways of showing love among the youth.

"Today's presentation, coming at a time when our nation is 50 years has given all of us an insight that love can be shown on this day to those who are less advantaged."