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The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has officially launched the 2026 edition of National Chocolate Month at the Nationalism Park in Accra, ushering in a month-long celebration of Ghana’s rich cocoa heritage and growing chocolate industry.
The annual initiative, observed throughout February, is aimed at promoting domestic tourism, encouraging the consumption of locally produced chocolate, and highlighting Ghana’s position as one of the world’s leading cocoa producers.
The launch ceremony took place yesterday at the Nationalism Park in Accra under the theme “Eat Cocoa, Stay Healthy and Grow Ghana,” with the sub-theme “Experience Ghana, Share the Cocoa Love.”
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Dzifa Abla Gomashie, in a speech delivered on her behalf by Dr Geoffrey Deladem Tamakloe, said the celebration symbolises not only affection but also national pride and love for Ghana’s cocoa heritage.
She described cocoa as a symbol of the nation’s agricultural excellence, industrial potential, tourism identity, and national resilience, noting that for decades it had supported livelihoods, strengthened rural economies, and contributed significantly to national development. However, she stressed the need to intensify value addition to ensure Ghana retained a greater share of the benefits from the global chocolate industry.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mrs Marilyn Maame Efua Houadjeto, highlighted the economic importance of increasing local chocolate consumption. She noted that although Ghana produced about 70 per cent of the world’s cocoa and remained the second-largest cocoa producer globally, the country earned approximately 3.86 billion dollars from cocoa exports last year, compared to the global chocolate industry’s estimated value of 160 billion dollars.
She urged Ghanaians to support locally produced chocolate, explaining that increased patronage would help retain value within the national economy, create jobs, and support more than 800,000 cocoa farming families across the country.
Mrs Houadjeto further stated that National Chocolate Month was a key component of the Black Star Experience, the government’s flagship tourism programme, and aligned with the 24-hour economy initiative by stimulating economic activity, innovation, and employment across the cocoa and tourism value chains.
She outlined key activities for the 2026 celebration, including Chocolate in the Park, a 24-hour activation at the Nationalism Park; a chocolate appreciation initiative at Parliament; outreach programmes to selected schools and correctional facilities; and educational tours to cocoa processing factories, including Fair Afric at Amanase near Suhum in the Eastern Region.
The Managing Director of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), Professor William Coffie, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to promoting Ghanaian chocolate through its Golden Tree and Putem brands. He reiterated CPC’s support for National Chocolate Month and public cocoa education initiatives, expressing confidence that ongoing interventions would strengthen the company’s competitiveness both locally and internationally.
Meanwhile, the Chocolate Fair, which began on Wednesday at the Nationalism Park, will run through Saturday, February 14. The fair features Ghanaian chocolate brands, cocoa-based products, exhibitions, and stakeholder engagements, offering opportunities for public participation, lifestyle engagement, and business networking.
The Ghana Tourism Authority expressed appreciation to the media and stakeholders for their continued support in promoting national development initiatives through accurate and impactful reportage.
Source: GTA
