CHOCOLATE DAY MARKED, THE MIRROR, SAT FEB 19, 2011, (PAGE 21)

Story: Della Russel Ocloo, Tema

THE Ghana Cocoa Board and its stakeholders have called on the general public to support their activities aimed at promoting domestic tourism.According to officials, countries such as South Africa, Dubai, France amongst others have become major tourist destination points following the commitment they have demonstrated over the years towards the branding their cities as parts of domestic tourism initiatives. The call was made at the celebration of the 2011 edition of the National Chocolate Day at a ceremony in Tema. It was the fifth in series following its introduction in 2007. The event, which was celebrated on Valentine's Day, was adopted by Government as a national day to boost up the consumption and sale of cocoa products in the country. Speaking at a media interaction at the premises of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) Managing Director of CPC, Dr Richard Armah Tetteh said, the company increase its production capacity to about 150metric tones (15,000) cartons of assorted Goldentree chocolate products.
The increase production volume according to him resulted from an increase in the factory’s production capacity following the completion of renovation works at the confectionery factory.
He reiterated the CPC’s commitment towards the chocolate day, which he said has become a significant feature on the Ghana Tourists Board’s calendar aimed at the country's economic development. The Goldentree brand Dr Tetteh said has over the years raked in huge revenue into the national economy from exports, thus its approval as an official product for the day was one that needs the backing of all and sundry. Special handmade chocolates, a new introduction to the golden tree brand were also outdoored. The addition he said was to suit the occasion and enhance gift giving. Dr Tetteh however lamented at the high cost of production which he said has seen an upsurge in the price of the products in the open market.According to him, although management have been exploring various ways to reduce the cost of production, high cost of utility tariffs grappling industries coupled with increase price of production inputs such as cocoa beans, sugar and milk was a major setback.These ingredients he said were often imported owing to the unavailability of local raw materials.“It is in line with these that, a research and development department has been commissioned to study alternative locally made products as substitutes to replace the imported ones,” Dr Tetteh noted. As parts of activities marking the celebrations, special sales promotion stands were mounted at retail outlets such as Maxmart, Melcom Plus, A&C Mall, Koala and other Goldentree outlets nationwide aimed at making the products accessible to consumers.A float was also organised through the principal streets of Accra to create awareness about the health benefits of eating chocolates. Dr Tetteh has thus called on the media to come on board and help the agencies in publicizing the event.He also called for the support of all stakeholders to promote the consumption of chocolate and cocoa products and explore the economic benefits therein. Present at the ceremony was the Public Affairs Manager of the COCOBOD, Mr Noah Kwesi Amenyah.