Introduce legislative instruments for cocoa sector - Expert
The Head of the Anatomy Department of the University of Ghana Medical School, Professor Frederick Addae, says though the number of Cocoa processing companies has increased in the country, a greater number of the finished Cocoa products is imported.
This, he noted will not sustain the Local Cocoa Industry if legislative instruments are not introduced to streamline the sector. Professor Addae therefore suggested to Parliament to enact a law to regulate the importation of Cocoa products to enhance the use of natural Cocoa products in the country.
Professor Addae said this at a Media sensitization meeting on the importance of Cocoa and its by-products in Accra. The meeting is a prelude to the first International Cocoa-Chocolate festival to take place from 2nd to the 15th of next month in the country.
Mr. Addae called for people to consume the product since natural Cocoa helps to boost the immune system, control stroke, cardiovascular diseases and other ailments.
Professor Addae mentioned that a local NGO Centuries International is collaborating with the Ministry of Tourism, Ghana Cocoa Board and other stakeholders to introduce the provision of natural Cocoa drink for some selected schools in the country.
The Social Welfare Officer of the Ghana COCOBOD, Mrs. Rita Owusu-Amakuah, called on the youth to go into agriculture, especially Cocoa farming to complement the government's effort at addressing the unemployment rate in the country.