RICHNESS OF GHANA`s COCOA

By Daniel Aforo

When I was very young, my mom used to buy me chocolate. Since then, I have been addicted to the eaten of chocolates (I mean made in Ghana one) which is known to contain a very rich nutrients for the health of mankind.

Well the next time you go to the market for cocoa products ask about the cash crop from Ghana pronto.  This is not a promotion since I am not a seller of the cash crop neither am I a farmer. Is because the health of every individual is precious.

 The cash group from the small West Africa country has proved to be one of the best (if not the best) in the world. “The chocolate product which is dark and bitter with more cocoa mass have been found to contain enough calcium and magnesium, and help the artery and general vascular elasticity and promote efficient blood” (according to Ghana Health Service)

So is good for everyone to drink chocolate beverages every morning instead of tea.

In  1870, a Ghanaian by the name Tettey Quarshie, brought cocoa into the shores of the country then known as the Gold Coast. He smuggled few cocoa seeds from Fernando Po, and started a farm in his hometown called Mampong.

Since the introduction of cocoa into the country, it has contributed significantly to the sustainable of the economy. It has provided an income to the local farmers, and creating jobs among the youth.

The cash crop is noted for its medicinal value. It is used for the production of various products which includes chocolates, biscuits, drinks, beverages, cosmetics, cocoa butter pomade.

Recently, the cocoa pods are used for local soaps called “Alata Samina”, and Choco cream. The “alata samina” is conducive for the curing of skin rashes whereas the choco cream is for the treatment of pimples, and skin disorders as well.

There are many health professionals and experts who have publicly advocated for the local consumption of cocoas products because of its positive medicinal value. Some experts are of the view that antioxidants have been a natural anti-cancer agent which affects the growth of cancer. But cocoa have five times stronger antioxidants capacity where the black and green tea is two times stronger than red wine. The immediate past Director-General, of the Ghana Health Service, Prof. Badu Akorsah, has been an advocate for the consumption of the cash crop.

Now the seeds have increased to the point of making Ghana the second highest producer of cocoa in the world after the Ivory Coast. Ghana annually produced 700,000 tones of cocoa.

Fortunately, this year which also marked the 50^TH Independence of Ghana (thus 6^TH March,1957),the Tourism and Diaspora Relations Minister, Mr. Jake Obetsebi- Lamptey, launched the Valentine’s Day as a day to be “ Ghana’s  National Chocolate Day”.

This made the celebration very unique devoid of vices. People used the occasion to present chocolates products as gifts to their love one’s on February 14^th.

Previously, the celebration of Valentine’s Day, have been associated with vices among our youth and the young children, because of the continuous hype from the media and other corporate bodies who used the occasion to make enough market for their institutions.

As part of the celebration of the Day, the Tourism Ministry, used the occasion to establish a cocoa museum at the farm of Tetteh Quarshie, where two of the original cocoa trees he planted is located in Mampong, the hometown of the father of cocoa in Ghana. Some tourists were also taken through the various stages of cocoa planting, harvesting and processing at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana CRIG).

Very interestingly, there are many people cannot buy a bar of chocolate .Some are of the view that it is very costive. Indeed, children of cocoa farmers are mainly at the rural folks and do not have the little fund to buy a bar of chocolate which cost around 10,000 cedis around ($1.4).

The cocoa scholarship found in our second –cycle institutions and colleges are mostly won by non cocoa farmers’ children.

At the recent Ghana International Trade Fair, this brought many businesses from both within and abroad.  I caught up with one of the local companies known as Hords Brown Gold Limited, which produced one of the very best pure natural cocoa beverages. In an interview with Mr. Hayford Otabil, the Chief Executive Officer, said the components in cocoa cannot be over emphasized.

He said the country’s cocoa has gained and continue to receive respect and recognitions from both local and international companies, and individuals. “Cocoa has the largest natural resource of magnesium that prevents abnormal heart beats, the artistries stiffen and muscle spam, insulin weakening, and high blood pressure which results in diabetes. It is useful that cocoa consumption will provide the magnesium required to prevent the disease from manifesting” he said.

The CEO stressed that theobromine which is a component found in cocoa serves as drug in the production and free flow of urine in cases in where accumulation of body fluids has resulted from heat failure. It is also used as anti-asthmatic drug because it causes bronchodilation by relaxing the smooth muscles of the bronchi Cocoa products contain vitamin A, B1, C, D, and E. “It is recommended that there should be no sugar or milk as part of increasing its medicinal value and prevention of intestinal gas and flatulence.

Touching on the company, Mr. Sackey, the       Sales Manager, said the Hords has helped in promoting the use of cocoa as a health food in the controlling diabetes and other related heart diseases. Hence the company produces the most natural cocoa powder in the country.

 It is good to consume cocoa on a consistent basis for the purposes of controlling high blood pressure” he sad.

He said cocoa is a health food especially for the heart and blood vessels. But he was quick to add that not all cocoa products are the same, since its processing may reduce the antioxidant content by as much as one third to one half. “Therefore the rule of thumb for cocoa product is that; darker is better, bitter is better and higher cocoa mass is better”. He emphasized.

The writer is a member of the Association of Young Journalists and Writers (AYJW).