School children, cocoa farmers among other member of the public in Nkawie and Darbaa in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of Ashanti, could not hide their smiles when the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) stormed there to distribute chocolate to mark this year’s Chocolate Day celebration.
It was the first of its kind in the Ashanti Region, and according to the COCOBOD, “the event was to honour the former President, John Agyekum Kufuor, who hails from Darbaa.”
According to the Ashanti Regional Administrator of the COCOBOD, William Kwasi Serebour Prempeh, the former President did well to institute the National Chocolate Day to boost the domestic consumption of the product.
“Since the institution of the day, chocolate consumption has increased in the country hence the honor to distribute chocolate in his hometown to appreciate his vision,” he intimated.
The National Chocolate Day is a celebration instituted in 2005 to coincide with Valentine’s Day. Earmarked for February 14, annually, the day is targeted at boosting the domestic consumption of Ghanaian chocolate and other cocoa based products.
Mr. Prempeh indicated that next year the number of schools and cocoa farmers would be increased to ensure lots of Ghanaians enjoy the delicious treat. Nana Adwoa Dokua, a member of the Board of Directors of COCOBOD, who led the team urged the media to help in promoting chocolate and other cocoa related products in the country.
A bite of chocolate a day, she said, could not only be good for one’s heart, but might also improve brain function, alleviate stress, and lower the risk of diabetes. She advised school children to eat more chocolate to enhance their brain function, instead of resorting to the consumption of some sweeteners that could affect their health.
The Odikro of Darbaa, Nana Adu Gyamfi Ababio, was full of praise for the treat by the COCOBOD. Darbaa District Assembly (D/A) primary and Junior High School children, Co-operative Cocoa Farmers at Nkawie, and other publics, numbering about 1,000 were the beneficiaries of the chocolate day celebration.