Consuming cocoa products can help fight Covid-19 – COCOBOD

Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo pleaded with Ghanaians to consume more chocolate and other cocoa products on a daily basis as they contain antioxidants to fight the coronavirus.

This, he said, would strengthen the immune system to resist the infectious disease.

In addition, eating cocoa could stimulate blood circulation, brain power, and improve the overall well-being of the body.

Mr Aidoo revealed it at the launch of National Chocolate Week 2021 in Accra on Thursday with the theme “Eat chocolate, stay healthy and grow Ghana”.

This year, National Chocolate Week would be celebrated from February 8-14 to raise awareness of the need for people to consume more cocoa products on a daily basis in order to improve their health.

Chocolate week was first celebrated in February 2005, replacing Valentine’s Day aimed at generating national enthusiasm for chocolate consumption.

The COCOBOD CEO noted that the country’s per capita consumption was 0.53 kilograms, which was well below the consumption rate in Europe and the Americas which hovered around 6.6 kilograms per capita consumption.

He said the nation needs to increase its per capita consumption of chocolate and other cocoa products locally to boost the national economy and reduce exports of raw cocoa beans for processing.

Currently, Ghana processes 40 percent of its raw cocoa beans locally, therefore Aidoo said the government has set a target of processing at least 50 percent of its cocoa beans locally.

He expressed the government’s commitment to provide incentives to local chocolate makers and artisanal manufacturers to stimulate the production of innovative cocoa products.

Cocoa Processing Company Managing Director Nana Agyenim Boateng in remarks assured the company will involve the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in the celebration of the week to help disseminating relevant information and the health benefits of chocolate and other cocoa-based products to the public.

Designated Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who represented Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, assured the government’s commitment to help local cocoa farmers and chocolate makers produce more cocoa products. innovative for export.

He pledged to convey a cocoa farmer’s proposal to the government on the need to set up a cocoa processing company as part of the “One District, One Factory” initiative.