By Hafsa Obeng, GNA
Accra, Feb. 15, GNA – The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has urged students of Achimota School to appreciate the value of cocoa and support locally produced chocolate as part of activities marking the National Chocolate Week.
Addressing hundreds of students at the school in Accra, Mrs Maame Efua Houadjeto, the Chief Executive Officer, GTA, said the visit was intentional and aimed at helping students understand the origin and value chain of chocolate.
She took the students through the cocoa value chain, explaining the processes from harvesting and drying the beans to processing and manufacturing into finished chocolate products.
“It starts from the cocoa farm and goes through several processes before it becomes chocolate,” she said, urging the students to appreciate the efforts of farmers whose livelihoods depended on cocoa production.
Mrs Huoadjeto described Ghana’s cocoa as among the best in the world and noted that about 70 per cent the cocoa used globally for chocolate production came from Ghana.
She said Ghana produced both conventional and organic cocoa, with the latter cultivated without the use of chemicals.
“They take very good care of it to ensure it grows well. Cocoa pods and dried leaves are used as natural fertiliser. We have both regular and organic cocoa,” she said.
“Cocoa is not merely an agricultural product; it represents history, resilience and opportunity.”
The GTA Chief Executive highlighted the health benefits of cocoa, noting that natural cocoa was rich in antioxidants that improved blood flow to the brain, enhance memory and concentration, and promoted alertness when consumed in moderation.
She stated that Ghanaian chocolate contained a minimum of 40 per cent cocoa, with some dark varieties containing as much as 92 per cent, making them healthier than some foreign brands that contained between four and 10 per cent.
“We have about 16 different types of chocolate in Ghana currently. Do not be deceived by foreign chocolates. Buy made-in-Ghana chocolate,” she urged.
She added that cocoa had numerous by-products, including cocoa powder for beverages, cocoa cream, black soap and syrups.
“Nothing is wasted in the cocoa value chain,” she said.
Mrs Houadjeto encouraged the students to protect the environment, stressing that healthy soil, forests and water bodies were essential for sustainable cocoa cultivation.
“As young people being nurtured in a school founded on unity and responsibility, you have a duty to protect the environment and safeguard the land that grows cocoa and Ghana’s heritage,” she said.
Mr Abeku Aggrey, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Marketing and Special Duties, said the interaction provided a platform for dialogue between the Authority and the leadership, staff and students of Achimota School on tourism heritage preservation, youth empowerment and career pathways within the creative and tourism sectors.
“Through this engagement, we seek to promote patriotism, innovation and responsible citizenship, while positioning Ghana’s chocolate and cocoa industry as a proud symbol of national excellence,” he said.
Miss Cleopatra El-Husseini, Girls’ Senior Prefect of Achimota School, on behalf of the student body, expressed appreciation to the GTA for the visit, describing it as an eye-opening experience.
“Today’s visit has been an opportunity and an eye-opener because we have learnt so much. We now understand the strong link between our heritage and cocoa,” she said.
She commended the Authority for selecting Achimota School for the engagement and expressed the hope that future collaborations would deepen appreciation of Ghana’s cocoa heritage.
The GTA team later presented boxes of chocolate to the students.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
