NORTH AMERICAN TEAM OF EDUCATORS ENGAGES WITH CRIG COCOA CLUB

Date: 07th July 2025

A group of schoolteachers from North America has visited the Cocoa Club of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) to equip themselves with the history and research activities of the Institute and the club. 

The visit was organised by the Witness Tree Institute of Ghana, a non-profit organisation created to engage educators in a multidisciplinary learning excursion about Ghanaian culture, economy, history and education. It provided an authentic experience for teachers from Ghana and North American team to develop skills and thinking habits that enrich their institutions and communities.

The schoolteachers, numbering thirty (30), from USA, Canada, Cape Verde and Ghana had earlier toured some heritage sites across the country, including the Cape Coast and Elmina castles.

Receiving the tourists at the forecourt of the Public Affairs Unit of CRIG the Founder of the Cocoa Club and former Deputy Director & Head of the Social Science and Statistics Unit, CRIG, Mr. Michael Owusu-Manu, gave a detailed report of the Institute’s quality research and innovation which has contributed immensely to increased production and sustainability of the industry. He added that cocoa is important to youth development and urged stakeholders in the cocoa industry to join the mission of the cocoa club project to encourage the younger generation to develop interests in career opportunities in the cocoa sector and agribusiness professions

Mr. Owusu-Manu stressed that the Club is a fun-based educational outreach programme which provides first-hand knowledge about the history and activities of the cocoa industry, and it was time to spread the cocoa education through the club in schools nationwide and beyond. He thanked the North American educators for their annual visit to CRIG and continued support for the cocoa club project.

A Public Affairs Officer at CRIG, Mr. Geoffrey Opoku-Darko, who guided the group on the familiarisation tour, reiterated that the cocoa club, through its focus on integrating the youth into mainstream cocoa farming and processing, will shape and develop their knowledge and research activities.  He urged the schoolteachers to inculcate the habit of consuming cocoa into their students in view of its nutritional and health benefits for the development of their cognitive acumen and general well-being.

Mr Opoku-Darko presented them with first-hand information on some research activities at the Fine Flavour Research Laboratory, the fermentry, experimental farms and products of CRIG, including cocoa wine, cocoa brandy, cocoa jam, cocoa butter body pomade, cocoa butter soap, among others.

As part of activities marking the visit, Cocoa Club members recited a presentation titled “Cocoa through the Wheel of Time,” which chronicled key historical developments from 1815 to the present. They also shared insights on the economic significance of cocoa and its linkages to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Director of Witness Tree Institute of Ghana, Tete Cobblah expressed appreciation for the innovative research by CRIG and Ghana Cocoa Board in supporting cocoa farmers in Ghana and introducing the cocoa club to connect pupils to cocoa and basic learning experiences of how cocoa beans are processed into chocolates for consumption.

By: Geoffrey Opoku-Darko,
Public Affairs, CRIG