As a prelude to the strategy, the GTA, in partnership with the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), last Tuesday distributed cocoa products to children at the Christ Praise Foster Home in Accra at a special ceremony to celebrate this year’s National Chocolate Day.

The management of the home was also presented with assorted cocoa products and a dispenser for cocoa drinks to refresh the children.

The items were received on behalf of the home by the Headmistress, Ms Helen Bekoe.

Addressing the gathering at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of GTA, Nana Oduro Kwarteng, said the day was instituted alongside Valentine’s Day to promote the consumption of chocolate and other cocoa products in the country.

This year’s National Chocolate Day celebration was on the theme: “Love Chocolate, Love Adventure.”

Health benefits

Talking about the health benefits of consuming cocoa products, Nana Kwarteng said, for instance, that the products helped to control blood pressure.

He urged the public to develop the taste and liking for consuming more cocoa products, especially chocolate, saying it was a product for good health as it helped in controlling diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Nana Kwarteng also impressed on the public to give out cocoa products as gifts to their loved ones during Valentine’s Day celebrations as a substitute for flowers which had been in the system for a long time.                                                                  

Gratitude

In a speech read on his behalf, the Director of Christ Praise Foster Home, Mr Kofi Aduboahene, thanked the officials from GTA and CPC for choosing the home as the venue for the celebration of this year’s National Chocolate Day.

He also expressed appreciation to them for the items they had presented to the home.