The Chief Executive of Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Afua Asabea Asare, says the export of cocoa derivatives accounted for 785 million dollars out of the total 2.81 billion dollars Ghana earned from non-traditional exports in 2018.
The figure represented 27.88% of the nation’s non-traditional export revenue, placing cocoa products or derivatives among the top-ten leading earners.
Madam Asare, opening the first-ever African Cocoa & Chocolate Expo in Accra, said GEPA is poised to significantly increase revenue through export product diversification.
“We believe that the significance of cocoa in our community does not match the prominence it is given – especially when 90 percent of people link cocoa to chocolate”, the GEPA boss noted.
According to her the cocoa and chocolate expo will offer an opportunity to showcase various elements of the cocoa crop as a key resource in health products, liquor, cosmetics, handicrafts and a wide range of confectionery.
Exhibitors from Ghana and other African countries, including three from neighbouring Togo, showcased dozens of innovative products made from cocoa.
Activities lined up include a cocoa exhibition and demonstrations, panel discussions on cocoa innovations in Ghana, cocoa in skincare and cosmetics, tasting and sampling sessions and a seminar on the medicinal and nutritional benefits of cocoa.
For those looking for business opportunities in the cocoa sector to create jobs, especially the youth, ACCE is designed to reveal even more. As the Government of Ghana agency established in 1969 to give impetus to the development and promotion of Ghana’s exports, The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), is the Lead partner of the ACCE which seeks to showcase and applaud the innovative works of burgeoning cocoa entrepreneurs in Ghana and Africa.
Mad Afua Asabea Asare, the CEO of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), said that the objective is for ACCE to create opportunities for investments and technological advancement throughout the cocoa value chain, while at the same time bringing together industry leaders and the general public for knowledge, networking, celebration, and fun.
She reiterated that the vision is for this event which opens in the week of National Cocoa Day (October 1) to become Africa’s premier Cocoa and Chocolate gathering by embracing all players in the cocoa value chain right from the hard-working farmer to the highly valued consumer and shedding light on innovation and growth opportunities on an annual basis.