COCOBOD BEGINS $10M PILOT COCOA CONSUMPTION THIS YEAR

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Government as part of the effort to promote Cocoa consumption is supporting the Ghana Cocoa Board to introduce cocoa consumption into the School Feeding Programme. 

This year, COCOBOD will run a pilot with a seed fund of 10 million Dollars for about 50 communities nationwide, where it is going to provide free cocoa drinks to one million pupils. 

The Senior Public Affairs Officer of the Ghana Cocobod, Benjamin Tei Larweh disclosed this in an interview on Ashanti Today in Kumasi. He explained that the purpose for this initiative is for the children to be exposed to cocoa products at an early age so that their taste for them will increase in years to come. 

Mr. Larweh said there is a likelihood for the expansion of the initiative to more pupils next year if the pilot is successful. He advocated the consumption of natural cocoa products especially be the elderly, as they help in the treatment of some diseases. 

According to Mr. Larweh, natural cocoa products, aside their bitterness, helps to reduce blood pressure, stress and supports the proper circulation of blood. He explained that, out of the 850 thousand tonnes of cocoa produced every year, the per capita consumption of cocoa products in Ghana is zero-point-five kilogrammes, making their consumption woefully insufficient.


Mr. Larweh said much as it is necessary for Government to export large qualities of cocoa to earn the needed foreign exchange to boost the national economy, it is needful for the Government to encourage the increased consumption of cocoa products locally to ensure improved health among Ghanaians.

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