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Minister promises better deal for cocoa farmers as
cocoa-chocolate festival kicks off
Accra, Oct. 12, Ghanadot/GNA - The Minister of Trade, Ms Hanna
Tetteh, on at the weekend launched the First Annual
Cocoa-chocolate Festival Celebrations and affirmed government's
commitment to improving the living conditions of cocoa farmers.
The event was organized by Centuries International
Cocoa-Chocolate Festival Organization (CICCFO) in collaboration
with the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Tourisms, Ghana Chefs
Association, and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, among
others, and attracted hundreds of pupils from first cycle
schools in Accra.
Ms Tetteh said government would undertake projects that would
focus on the improvement of the lives of cocoa farmers, whose
produce earns Ghana the much needed foreign exchange inflows.
Government would also see to the institution of the Cocoa
Farmers Insurance Scheme and provide solar-powered electricity
for farmers throughout the country.
Mr Ben Amponsah-Fordjour, Executive Chairman of CICCFO, who
briefed the gathering on the festival, said the organization
would form a subsidiary to produce chocolate and other cocoa by
products.
Through this, Mr Amponsah-Fordjour said, CICCFO aims at creating
some 3,000 job opportunities for thousands of Ghanaian youth
through the sale of the company's products, which range from
chocolate to booster or unsweetened cocoa beverages and pastries
that provide enormous health benefits.
Professor Frederick Addai, Head of the Anatomy Department of the
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, University of Ghana, Legon, and
originator of Ghana's Booster Cocoa, provides countless benefits
of unsweetened cocoa beverage, which he calls Goodfood Cocoa
Powder.
The beverage promotes superlative health by strengthening your
immune system via its aroma, and antioxidant content.
This enables consumers to ward off many diseases, particularly
viral ailments such as cold and flu, and to cope with stress and
stay happy.
Goodfood cocoa also facilitates good digestive system functions
and bowel movement, increases one's exercise tolerance and
ability to do physical activities; optimizes heart, lung, and
brain functions; and slows down 'wear and tear' in the body,
thereby keeping one younger, and maintaining one's blood
cholesterol at normal levels and in good proportions.
The 10-day event continues this week with the introduction of
more pupils from first cycle schools to booster cocoa drinks,
biscuits and pastries.
Other attractions of the event, which is scheduled to run
through all cocoa regions and districts of the country, will
include dance competitions and group wedding for family members
of cocoa farmers.
CICCFO has also received the nod from the Ministry of Tourism to
hold the Annual Chocolate Day with effect from 2010.
CICCFO is a Ghanaian non-profit organization dedicated to
promoting the sale of cocoa-based products through small shops
to provide employment opportunities for the youth.
It will focus on private sector participation in the processing
of Ghana's cocoa beans into finished products such as chocolate,
assorted beverages, pastries, lotions, wines, creams, soaps and
vinegar.
One of the principal aims of CICCFO is to make Ghana the best
cocoa tourism destination in Africa through the promotion and
growth of the cocoa industry.
GNA
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