Chocolate tourism in Ghana
Many years ago, Tettie Quarshie smuggled cocoa beans into Ghana. The first seed was planted in the country on the first cocoa farm located within the Cocoa Research Institute. Since then, it has become the economic backbone of the country, making Ghana the second largest producer and exporter of cocoa in the world.
Recently, Ghana is starting to look at a new dimension of cocoa by becoming a major player in chocolate tourism along the lines of Belgium.
Chocolate tourism in Ghana is basically a week-long adventure trip that helps people understand the basic nuances of cocoa farming and processing it into an export product. Trips are organized for tourists to visit the best cocoa plantations and farms in the country, followed by a visit to the cocoa processing company where these raw products are processed and the cocoa beans are packaged. Later, tourists can visit some of the best chocolate-producing factories to experience the process of making chocolate. Tourists can spend the night in selected cocoa villages. Throughout the trip, the tourist can satisfy his palate by experiencing the flavor of different recipes made from cocoa and chocolate. Other attractions during the trip include food fairs, chocolate pool parties and chocolate dresses.
Aiming to kick off its plans to transform the country as a leading chocolate tourism destination, the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations had declared February 14 as Ghana’s National Chocolate Day.
