GTB ORGANISES TRIP FOR PUPILS (PAGE 23, FEB 20, 2010)

AS part of activities to mark the National Cocoa Day, the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) has organised a day’s trip for a number of pupils from the Amrahia Basic School in the Greater Accra Region.
The trip took the pupils to two historic towns noted for the cultivation of cocoa in the Eastern Region.
The towns are Mampong-Akuapem where the legendary Tetteh Quarshie cultivated the first cocoa farm about 150 years ago and New Tafo where the Cocoa Research Institute (CRIG), an organisation which researches into the cultivation and processing of cocoa is located.
At Mampong-Akuapem, the pupils who were led by the Special Investment Officer of the GTB, Mrs Diana Mawuko, were briefed on how Tetteh Quarshie smuggled cocoa into the country from Fernando Po.
The pupils, most of whom saw the cocoa tree and pods for the first time, were also educated on the cultivation of the crop.
At the offices of CRIG at New Tafo, the acting Executive Director of the institute, Dr Frank Amoah Manu, educated the pupils on the three main types of cocoa, the Amelonado, the Amezonia and Hybrid, which he said, started bearing fruits after seven, five and two-half years, respectively after planting.
Dr Amoah Manu schooled the pupils on the production of locally produced chocolates, cocoa drinks, butter, gin and different kinds of soap, all obtained from cocoa.
He also told the pupils that most of the raw cocoa beans were exported to other countries, making Ghana the second largest exporter of the crop after La Cote d’ Ivoire.
The pupils were also made to know that cocoa, the second largest foreign exchange earner for the country after gold, had over the years played a significant role in economic development.
The pupils were provided with chocolates were also shown the various consumer products obtained from cocoa.
Dr Amoah Manu urged the pupils to patronise cocoa products, especially chocolates which were good for people’s health.
The pupils later asked a number of questions on cocoa which were answered by Dr Amoah Manu and Mr Bishop Kabutey, the Principal Public Relations Officer of CRIG.