Accra: Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has launched the 2026 National Chocolate Month celebration, urging Ghanaians to consume more locally made chocolate to support farmers, industry growth, and national development.
According to Ghana News Agency, the celebration coincides with Valentine's Day on February 14 and is themed 'Eat Cocoa, Stay Healthy and Grow Ghana,' with a sub-theme 'Experience Ghana, Share the Cocoa Love.' Madam Gomashie highlighted that while Valentine's Day globally symbolizes love and appreciation, in Ghana, it also represents love for the country and pride in cocoa, one of the nation's most valuable natural resources.
The minister emphasized that cocoa is not just a confectionery product but a symbol of Ghana's agricultural excellence, industrial potential, tourism identity, and national resilience. She noted that Ghana, recognized globally as a leading producer of premium cocoa, has relied on the crop for decades to sustain livelihoods, strengthen rural economies, and contribute significantly to national development.
Beyond agriculture, cocoa has evolved into a significant tourism asset, with chocolate tourism emerging as a critical area for domestic tourism growth, youth engagement, and private sector participation. The National Chocolate Month is part of the 'Black Star Experience,' a flagship national tourism program designed to showcase Ghana's culture, heritage, creative arts, cuisine, and natural resources through immersive experiences.
Madam Gomashie stated that this year's celebration aligns with the Government's 24-hour economy initiative, integrating tourism promotion, youth education, and stakeholder engagement to create value along the cocoa supply chain. She stressed that choosing locally made chocolate supports farmers, strengthens local manufacturing, promotes tourism, creates jobs, and retains value within the economy.
Mrs. Efua Houadjeto, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), described the celebration as a movement to reposition Ghanaian chocolate at the center of Valentine's festivities. She pointed out that Ghana produces over 700,000 metric tonnes of cocoa annually and supplies about 70% of the world's premium chocolate, yet captures a small share of the $160 billion global chocolate industry. Mrs. Houadjeto urged Ghanaians to choose made-in-Ghana chocolates to change this narrative.
The Ghana Chocolate Fair at the Nationalism Park will bring together local brands including Golden Tree, Fairafric, Niche, Republica, and Ohemaa, creating jobs and supporting over 800,000 farming families. Prof. William Coffie, Managing Director of Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), stated that the National Chocolate Month celebrates heritage, value addition, and economic resilience. He reaffirmed CPC's commitment to producing quality chocolate and cocoa-based products under its Golden Tree and Portem brands and announced factory tours, museum visits, and chocolate tasting sessions as part of the week's activities.
Mr. Sam Jerome, Head of Corporate Affairs at COCOBOD, called on stakeholders to use the celebration as a call to action to deepen local processing, expand domestic markets, and reposition cocoa as a pillar of Ghana's economic transformation. Key activities planned for the celebration include a 24-hour Chocolate in the Park activation at the Nationalism Park, featuring chocolate tasting, exhibitions, entertainment, and interactive learning sessions. Additionally, a chocolate appreciation initiative at Parliament and outreach programs distributing chocolate to students and inmates will be conducted, with similar activities replicated nationwide.