Position country as global chocolate hub -Manso Nkwanta MP tells gov’t

By Kizito Cudjoe

The Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region, Tweneboah Kodua Fokuo, is urging the government to position Ghana as a global chocolate hub to attract tourists from around the world annually on Valentine’s Day.

According to him, just as the Tourism Ministry successfully made Ghana a Christmas destination, it is equally important for the country to devise ways of branding itself as a destination for specialty chocolate.

Ghana is currently the world’s second-largest producer of cocoa after Ivory Coast. However, most of the cocoa beans produced are exported in their raw state with little value addition.

Fokuo believes the country could leverage its cocoa dominance by shifting from merely exporting raw beans to adding value through chocolate production while promoting Ghanaian premium cocoa, which is sustainable and ethically sourced.

The Manso Nkwanta MP made the call on the floor of Parliament last Friday, February 14, as part of a contribution to a statement made by Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare and two others on the 2025 edition of the National Chocolate Day celebration.

He emphasised the need for investment in local chocolate manufacturing facilities by both local entrepreneurs and international investors, through partnerships with licensed cocoa buying companies, to realise this vision.

Mr. Fokuo is convinced that Ghana could create a distinct identity by incorporating local flavors and using attractive packaging designs that showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage.

He also proposed a partnership between the Tourism Ministry and global organizations to promote Ghana as the “Chocolate Capital of the World” on Valentine’s Day, with side events such as chocolate tastings, cooking classes, and cultural performances to attract international visitors.

Additionally, he said the country could collaborate with international chocolate experts to share knowledge and best practices to improve production technologies while promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education focused on agriculture and food processing to build a skilled workforce.

The lawmaker urged the Tourism Ministry to create a favorable policy environment that attracts investment and supports the Ghanaian chocolate industry

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