Position Ghana as global chocolate hub — Manso Nkwanta MP advocates

Tweneboah Kodua Fokuo

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 also 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. Unfortunately, most of the cocoa beans produced are exported in their raw state without value addition.

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

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

The MP emphasized the importance of investing in local chocolate manufacturing facilities by both local entrepreneurs and international investors through partnerships with licensed cocoa-buying companies to realize the vision.

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

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

Additionally, Mr. Fokuo suggested that the country 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 tasked the Ministry of Tourism with creating a favorable policy environment that attracts investment and supports the Ghanaian chocolate industry.