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Health News for Saturday, February 6, 2021
Source: GNA
2021-02-06
COCOBOD CEO, Joseph Boahen Aidoo
Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Executive Director Joseph Boahen Aidoo has called on Ghanaians to consume more chocolate and other cocoa products on a daily basis as they contain antioxidants to fight the coronavirus disease.
That, he said, would boost his immune system to resist infectious disease.
COCOBOD says that research on the health and nutritional benefits of cocoa has revealed that it contains iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and antioxidants that could strengthen the immune system to resist the damaging effects of COVID-19.
In addition, eating cocoa could stimulate blood circulation, brainpower and improve the general well-being of the body.
Mr. Aidoo gave the advice during the launch of National Chocolate Week 2021 in Accra on Thursday on the theme “Eat chocolate, stay healthy and grow Ghana.”
This year’s National Chocolate Week would be held from February 8-14, to raise public awareness of the need for people to consume more cocoa products on a daily basis in order to improve their health.
Chocolate Week was first celebrated in February 2005, to replace Valentine’s Day with the goal of fueling national enthusiasm for chocolate consumption.
The COCOBOD CEO pointed out that the country’s per capita consumption was 0.53 kilograms, well below the consumption rate in Europe and America, which was around 6.6 kilograms of per capita consumption.
He said the nation needs to increase its per capita consumption of chocolate and other cocoa products locally, to boost the national economy and reduce the export of raw cocoa beans for processing.
Ghana currently processes 40 percent of its raw cocoa beans locally, therefore, Mr. Aidoo indicated that the government has set a goal of processing at least 50 percent of its cocoa beans locally.
Mr. Aidoo expressed the government’s commitment to provide incentives to local artisan chocolate makers and manufacturers to drive the production of innovative cocoa products.
Nana Agyenim Boateng, CEO of Cocoa Processing Company, in one direction, assured that the company would involve the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Food and Drug Authority in the celebration of the Week, to help disseminate information relevant and health. benefits of chocolate and other cocoa products for the public.
He said he would make sure there were enough cocoa products to celebrate the Week.
Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Designated Minister of Information, representing Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, assured the government’s commitment to support local cocoa farmers and chocolate manufacturers to produce more innovative cocoa products for export. .
He undertook to transmit the proposal of a cocoa producer to the government regarding the need to establish a cocoa processing company within the framework of the “One district, one factory” initiative.
