Ghana’s consumption of cocoa and chocolate products increased significantly by 50% from an average of 0.5 to 1 kilogrammes per annum.
Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has thus described the improvement as a huge milestone, considering the low level of consumption in the country previously.
Speaking to inaugurate the National Planning Committee for the promotion of cocoa consumption in the country on February 28, Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo said the country needs to consume more cocoa locally to generate more value for cocoa farmers.
“The inauguration of the committee is crucial in Ghana COCOBOD’s quest to increase consumption to about 5 kilogrammes per year in the near future”
“With the world average chocolate consumption estimated at 0.9 kilogrammes per capita a year, Ghana is now consuming 1 kilogramme per capita per year after a series of campaigns to get the products to local institutions”, he added.
The Chief Executive of COCOBOD, therefore, said this significant jump in consumption will boost the fortunes of cocoa farmers in the near future.
“The average in Europe is 5 kilogrammes, Switzerland is 11kg, Germany is 9.1kg and Estonia 8.3 kg. The whole of Africa’s Consumption is 0.5kg and Ghana is now 1.0kg. We believe that it will be prudent for us to consume more domestically so that our farmers can get more premiums and value on the products”.
“We produce the products and pride ourselves as the second largest producer, so we must consume locally to encourage others as well’ he noted.
The nine-member committee chaired by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs of COCOBOD, Fiifi Boafo, is to ensure adequate promotion of cocoa products and domestic consumption in all sectors of the economy.
Mr Boafo assured that all efforts will be made to ensure chocolate products are available for local consumption.
The terms of reference for the committee include developing a strategy document for the generic promotion of cocoa consumption in the country and developing programmes and activities that will create and increase national awareness of the health and nutritional benefits of cocoa among others.