Residents in the Eastern Region capital, Koforidua, are calling on government to make cocoa products affordable in the market.
They believe this would encourage a wider consumption and demand among a larger populace.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) initiated the National Chocolate Day on Valentine’s Day to encourage the youth to use cocoa-based products and share among loved ones.
The initiative has caught on but the affordability remains a challenge for the average income earner.
For many of the youthful populace of Koforidua, a leading producer of cocoa in the world should have products that are affordable .
“I am told the prices are up so I don’t even want to ask of the chocolates to buy. The economy is hard already. We produce cocoa, we should have cheap products to buy,” Alex Narh argued.
Others also believe more consumption of the local chocolate and other products regardless of the price would help improve the local economy.
Leonard Nutakor had a different view.
“The economic happenings around the world means we should promote what we have locally, regardless of the price. We should buy it to ensure we boost the local economy.
“I am happy to receive a chocolate today, we should all consume the cocoa products,” lawyer Yaa Adobea Okyireh said.
Gifty Abena Macamba has been selling chocolates for years.
She says profit margins have reduced because prices have shot up, twice of last year’s price.
“I have only large ones to sell this year. The small ones didn’t arrive from Tema. The prices have shot up from GH¢500 to almost GH¢1000. I wish government could intervene, else profit margins would be lost.”
On Tuesday, February 14, officials of the Ghana Tourism Authority in Koforidua shared chocolates to residents in the central business district.
The Eastern Regional Ghana Tourism Regional Manager, Dinah Adu Owusu, acknowledged the price concerns of cocoa products, but maintained they offer enormous benefits to the consumer, producers and government.
“As usual this year, we are promoting the cocoa products. We want to encourage everyone to use it today as a gift and consume the products each day because of its health benefit.
“If we consume more chocolates, there would be more demand, our local economy would improve, those along the value chain would make gains as well,” she added.
The theme for 2023 is ‘Eat Chocolate, Stay healthy, Grow Ghana’.