Ghana marks ‘Chocolate Day’ but chocolate consumption low

• Posted on February 14, 2019
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

February 14 has been declared in Ghana as National Chocolate Day to coincide with the celebration of Valentines’s Day. However, the consumption of locally made chocolate remains low, despite the fact that the celebration of the (National Chocolate) Day has been going on for over a decade.

According to the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), Ghanaians consume only 400 grams of chocolate daily compared to other developed countries that consume twice the number.

The National Chocolate Day aims at increasing local consumption of locally made chocolate to encourage the processing of cocoa for value addition.

The local chocolate Market has low patronage compared to higher consumption of imported chocolate.

In 2017, $45 million worth of chocolate was imported into the country.

The global chocolate market is worth some 103.28 billion dollars and has been estimated to reach approximately 161.56 billion dollars by 2024.

Ghana’s major producer of chocolate – the Cocoa Processing Company – produces 2,000 metric tons of chocolate annually.

However, the company has been faced with numerous challenges, including the use of obsolete machines and lack of space.

Although a few private companies have started local processing of cocoa, that is not enough to meet local demand, allowing for the high importation of foreign made chocolate.

Despite Ghana being ranked second for cocoa production and the country with the finest cocoa beans, there is little processing and consumption of Ghana’s main cash crop.

James Ekow Rhule, Head of Public Relations at Cocoa Processing Company, says Ghana is now nurturing its chocolate market.

“If we intensify education for local consumption of our own products I believe we can have a great share in the speedy growth of the chocolate market globally. But we all have to work towards it because Ghana has huge prospects,” he said.

On his part, Acting Chairman of National Chocolate Day Committee, Dr. Edward Amporful, said an intensification of the education on the health benefits of chocolate, which include a reduction of heart related problems, can make some impact.