The Ashanti Regional Office of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has distributed over 200 bars of locally made chocolate to children admitted at the Kumasi Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital.
The initiative was part of this year’s National Chocolate Week celebration, which coincided with Valentine’s Day. It was carried out nationwide in collaboration with COCOBOD and the Cocoa Processing Company.
This year’s celebration was themed “Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy, Grow Ghana” with the sub-theme “Chocolate for All: Taste, Share, and Care.” The event aims to promote chocolate consumption and highlight its health benefits.
After an official presentation at the hospital’s forecourt, staff of the Ashanti GTA visited various wards to distribute the chocolate bars to the children.
Mr. Frederick Rudolph, Ashanti Regional Director of GTA, stated that the initiative was “a way of showing love to the children and their mothers, reminding them that even though they are in the hospital, people care about them.” He added that the effort also sought to educate nurses and health officials on the benefits of consuming chocolate and cocoa products.
He further emphasized that instilling knowledge about the health benefits of cocoa consumption in children will encourage them to incorporate cocoa products into their diets for improved well-being.
Rosemond Kusi Owusu-Ansah, Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the hospital, expressed gratitude to the GTA for choosing their facility for the celebration. She acknowledged the nutritional value of chocolate, describing it as “a naturally rich source of essential nutrients.”
She added, “Having the GTA celebrate National Chocolate Week with us is a great blessing.”
