Three Ghanaian cocoa farmers have been honoured on the global stage for emerging as winners at the 2017 edition of the Cocoa of Excellence and International Cocoa Awards in Paris, France.
They are John Kofi Asiamah from Tafo District in the East Region; Simon Marfo of Santaso, Western South District of the Western Region, and Noah Oben, Ntrikrom, Mankranso District, Ashanti Region.
Aside the prizes given to them by organizers of the awards, which were received on their behalf in Paris by COCOBOD officials, COCOBOD gave GH¢5,000 to each farmer for making Ghana proud on the international stage.
The Cocoa of Excellence awards is organized every two years by the Biodiversity International and Event International in partnership with some chocolate manufacturers at the Salon du Chocolate.
A total of 166 cocoa beans samples, originating from 40 countries, were submitted for the 2017 edition of the awards, according to COCOBOD.
After a first physical quality evaluation, 162 samples were accepted and were carefully processed into liquor and untempered chocolate for blind sensory evaluation by a panel of international experts, who are part of the Cocoa of Excellence Technical Committee.
Following the evaluation, 50 high quality samples were selected and they were further processed into tempered and molded chocolate for sensory evaluation by a broader panel of 41 chocolate professionals.
Eighteen were subsequently shortlisted to receive International Cocoa Awards, and in Africa and the Indian Ocean, Ghana, Madagascar, Sierra Leone and Tanzania won awards in this category, according to COCOBOD.
According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cocobod, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the awards ceremony brings together leading sensory evaluation experts in the chocolate industry to evaluate, recognize and reward cocoa with exceptional and unique flavors, while bringing know-how, market opportunities and incentives for safeguarding cocoa diversity to farming communities and national organizations globally.
Qualification to participate in the competition and the number of samples to submit, he said, depends on the country’s record of production and performance at the previous ICA programmes.
“Participating countries gain global recognition as the programme provides a platform for cocoa producers to meet representatives from the cocoa and chocolate industry. It also creates an opportunity to be recognized internationally as a producer of cocoa with exceptional and diverse quality,” Mr Aidoo underscored, indicating that Ghana’s participation in the awards dates back to 2011.
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