The first ever cocoa festival was launched in Accra on Wednesday with a call on the private sector to partner government to make it a major attraction to tourists all over the world. Mrs Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, said if packaged well, the festival could help create jobs and generate the necessary revenues to speed up the country’s socio-economic development. The maiden festival scheduled for September 20 at Mampong Akuapem, where the first cocoa trees were planted, is being organised by FM24 Company, managers of Tetteh Quarshie farms and is expected to be an annual event. It is estimated that about 200 tourists visit the Tetteh Quarhsie farm daily and an added attraction of a festival will help swell the numbers. Mrs Sai-Cofie, who recounted the benefits of the cocoa industry to the economy, entreated all to consume cocoa products to take advantage of its health attributes. She called on all, especially corporate organisations, to support the cocoa festival to portray the uniqueness of cocoa in the Ghanaian culture. Mrs Ursula Owusu, Corporate Affairs Manager of Zain Telecommunications (ZT), sponsors of the festival, said cocoa was a passion of Africa and that ZT believed in supporting passions of Africa. She said ZT would by close of the year launch innovative products to serve the telecommunication needs of Ghanaians. As a toast of what to expect on the day of celebrations, a rendition of Ghanaian cultural display was performed by Abibigroma Drama Group of the University of Ghana. Source: GNA