As the nation marks National Chocolate Day on Saturday, February 14, the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) has urged stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at making domestic cocoa products competitive on the global market.
Climaxing its Chocolate Week Celebration on Friday, in Accra, the Authority reiterated its commitment to creating opportunities for companies in the cocoa value chain to export, create jobs, and boost national income.
The week-long celebration, on the theme: “Celebrating Ghana’s Cocoa Heritage the Free Zones Way: Taste, Learn and Enjoy,” included product exhibition and interactive sessions held at the forecourt of the organisation.
It brought together some local enterprises and manufacturers of cocoa products as management, staff and guests sampled a variety of indigenous chocolate.
Mr Musa Sibiri Hamidu, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Finance and Administration, GFZA, said the activities were to celebrate the achievements of the Authority in the cocoa sector and recognise the contributions of the processing companies and enterprises within the Free Zones programme.
Thanking stakeholders for their contribution, he lauded the impact of industries that continued to add value to raw cocoa to augement the country’s income and exports.
Mr Lateef Appau Wiredu, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Operations), commended stakeholders who supported the various activities during the celebration.
“Cocoa remains one of the pillars of our national economy, and through the Free Zones programme, we continue to create opportunities for value addition, export growth, job creation, and industrial transformation,” he said.
“Through the exhibition, tour, and chocolate tasting events, we are reminded of the relevance of our work in promoting the growth of these companies. We are also reminded that cocoa is a core part of our heritage, culture and a hallmark of our global competitiveness.”
“As we leave here, may we carry forward the message that value addition is key to Ghana’s economic future. Let us continue to champion domestic industrial growth and support initiatives that position Ghana strongly on the global market.”
Ahead of the exhibition, the GFZA staff embarked on a tour to cocoa product manufacturing companies, and were served hot chocolate drink throughout the week.
Product Exhibitors comprised the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), Plot Enterprise Ghana Limited, and HPW.
As part of the day’s activities, the GFZA staff engaged in a “Paint-and-Sip” competition, exhibiting their talent and creativity with different forms of art.
The National Chocolate Day is marked annually on February 14, to promote local cocoa consumption, industry growth and national pride.