The Cocoa Process Company (CPC) has observed the National Chocolate Day with pupils of the Tema Manhean Methodist Basic School.
The company, as part of the celebration, presented two chocolate bars each to the children and other cocoa products to boost the children’s desire for cocoa.
Every February 14, celebrated as Valentine?s Day worldwide, is commemorated as National Chocolate Day in Ghana.
The day was declared as such in 2006 to promote the consumption of Ghana chocolate and cocoa-based chocolate products.
The rebranding is also to minimise anti-social vices associated with the celebration of Valentine?s Day, and to increase the awareness on the health benefits of chocolate, and boost domestic tourism. .
According to Harvard researchers, as reported by the Web MD in March 2011, Cocoa, used throughout history as a folk medicine, have significant health benefits.
According to the online report, the university?s analysis of 21 studies with 2,575 participants showed that cocoa consumption is associated with decreased blood pressure improved blood vessel health, and improvement in cholesterol levels, among other benefits.
Other medical sources also cite about 100 medicinal uses for cocoa and chocolate have been noted, including the treatment of fatigue, emaciation, fever, angina and heart pain, anaemia, shortness of breath, and kidney and bowel complaints.
It is believed that many of cocoa?s therapeutic properties can be attributed to flavonoids, which cocoa beans possess in abundance.
Nana Oduro Owusu, Managing Director of CPC, said his outfit was happy to celebrate the day with the pupils as a way of showing love to them.
Nana Owusu said the programme was held on the February 13 because the Day fell on Saturday, which was not a school day.
He said as part of the celebration, CPC collaborated with the school authorities and identified the needs of the school and presented some items to them.
They included six white boards with markers, two sets of students table with six chairs, a projector, balls for basketball and soccer, 10 bags of drinking chocolate, 10 packets of chocolate spread and other items.
Madam Janet Brakatu Addo, headmistress of Manhean Methodist Basic School, thanked the CPC for celebrating with them.
Madam Addo appealed to CPC and the Ghana Cocobod to help the school address its numerous challenges, which included a fence wall.
GNA
