Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, has called on Ghanaians to support locally made chocolate and cocoa products as the country celebrates National Chocolate Week and Valentine’s Day.
She said, “Chocolate is a symbol of Ghana’s agricultural excellence, industrial potential, tourism identity, and national resilience.”
Madam Gomashie made the call in an interview with a section of the media on Friday after making a statement on Chocolate Day on the Floor of Parliament.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy, and Grow Ghana,” with the sub-theme “Experience Ghana, Share the Cocoa Love.”
Madam Gomashie, also a National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South, emphasised that cocoa presented significant opportunities for industrialisation, job creation, and entrepreneurship, particularly for the youth.
“Increasing domestic cocoa processing will create jobs in food technology, packaging, branding, logistics, agribusiness, and creative marketing, among others,” she said.
She also highlighted the potential of chocolate tourism, including factory visits, cocoa farm tours, and chocolate tasting events, to diversify Ghana’s tourism offerings and increase visitor spending.
However, the Minister also raised concerns about the impact of galamsey on cocoa farms and called for collective action to end the menace.
The government has invited all Ghanaians to celebrate National Chocolate Week by sharing Ghanaian chocolate as a symbol of love, supporting local businesses, and sharing the cocoa story of Ghana with the world.
Valentine’s Day, celebrated annually on February 14, is a global, commercial, and cultural, and often romantic, holiday dedicated to expressing love, affection, and admiration.
The day is named after St. Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman priest who, according to legend, defied Emperor Claudius II by secretly marrying couples, as the emperor believed single men made better soldiers.
Originally a Christian feast day for Saint Valentine, it has evolved into a day for partners, friends, and family to exchange gifts, cards, and flowers, symbolizing deep emotional connections.
Essentially, it is a day to stop and celebrate love in its various forms, showing appreciation for the special people in one’s life.
By Elsie Appiah-Osei, GNA