The push for local processing and consumption of chocolate intensifies
The celebration of the National Chocolate Week 2023 has been launched with a new objective to empower artisanal chocolate processors to take advantage of new incentives in the consumption campaign to be more competitive to meet market demands.
While launching the celebration at the Accra Tourism Information Centre, the Minister of Information, Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah acknowledged that the cocoa industry plays an important role in stabilizing the local economy, therefore it is necessary to intensify efforts to improve local production, processing and consumption. .
Hon Oppong Nkrumah said, “One way to do this is to ensure a light harvest for local processors so that they do not have to buy the main crop for processing.” He added that the light crop, which costs less than beans from the main crop, will help local processors reduce production costs.
He advised the Ghana Cocoa Board and other stakeholder institutions to address the financing challenges of local processors by pushing for policy instruments that incentivize the financial services sector to provide financing, using cocoa beans as security.
He further advised the Ghana Free Zone Authority to expand its education on the various incentives available under the free zone enclave to help attract more local processors to the enclave.
He further emphasized the need to attract more local chocolates to join the value chain, in order to encourage domestic consumption.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts Industry, Mr. and make a strong case for the continued promotion of these initiatives to attract more domestic and international participation.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Hon Joseph Boahen Aidoo who was represented by the Deputy Chief Executive (Finance and Administration), Mr. Ray Emmanuel Ankrah said the Ghana Cocoa Board in collaboration with industry stakeholders, is continuously pushing for tax incentives and upskilling for artisanal cocoa processors . as part of the drive to increase local chocolate processing and consumption in Ghana.
He further informed that the new push is to ensure local chocolate is well equipped for the competitive new markets the country is targeting under the InterContinental African Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and others.
“I am happy to announce that while we are interacting with various stakeholders to secure tax incentives for local processors, we have also secured a partnership to create a Chocolate Academy to train and refine the skills of local artisanal chocolate makers, in order to meet the needs of the chocolate market.”
Mr. Boahen Aidoo added that this year’s celebration is a platform for chocolatiers, hoteliers, and caterers to showcase and promote their creative talents to other countries and invited them to fully participate in activities to mark the celebration.
Under the theme, Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy, Grow Ghana! week celebration of the country’s third largest foreign exchange, chocolate starts with activities from 7Th for 14Th February, designed to bring the country together with the common goal of increasing the country’s per capita consumption of chocolate.
Currently, per capita consumption is around 1kg, up from the 2017 figure of 0.50kg.
During the celebration, the much-anticipated Chocolate City, a dome erected as a center for chocolate products at Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout in Accra will be opened to all Ghanaian entrepreneurs in the cocoa sector such as cosmetics, food and confectionery, medicine and others. products and services to showcase their craft at no cost to them and the community.
Chocolate City will be open from 11amTh for 14Th in February 2023.
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