TOUR OF TETTEH QUARSHIE MEMORIAL FARM: CRIG ENCOURAGES DIASPORAN GROUP TO INVEST IN COCOA SECTOR

Date: 25th July 2022

The Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) has hosted a 35-member Diasporan group of African origin who are reconnecting with their roots with a tour of some heritage sites across the continent, including the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Farm at Mampong Akuapem in the Eastern Region.

The historic farm tour was organized by the Cultural Society of Africa (HACSA) Foundation under a programme dubbed ‘The Sankofa Heritage Experience’.

Discussions during the tour centered on cultural, educational and investment opportunities within the cocoa sector.

A Principal Public Affairs Officer at CRIG, Mr. Lloyd Brobbey Adasi who guided the group from HACSA Foundation on the tour urged them to explore the business opportunities within the cocoa sector.

Mr. Adasi cited that the sector has great potential for investors in agri-business, consumer products, tourism and pharmaceuticals among others.

He mentioned some of the specific areas with great potential for investors, “the husks of cocoa pods can also be used to produce cosmetics, marmalades, jams, alcoholic beverages, organic fertilizer as well as animal feed which creates extra income for our cocoa farmers.”

As part of the tour, Mr. Adasi briefed the group on the history of cocoa production in Ghana and the production processes.

Ghana, according to Mr. Adasi, is noted worldwide as the leading producer of premium quality cocoa, due to the natural techniques applied during the fermentation and drying of cocoa beans after harvesting.

He explained the pre-production and post-production processes after showing them to the first two cocoa trees planted in 1879 by Tetteh Quarshie, the pioneer of cocoa production in Ghana, after whom the farm is named.

The tour group also visited the Jubilee Farm at Mampong Akuapem.

The Operations Manager of HACSA, Natasha Gordon led the tourists, some of whom are originally from Nigeria, South Africa, Turks and Caicos Island, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

 She commended Ghana Cocoa Board for the strides made in ensuring environmentally sustainable production of cocoa and described the tour as illuminating.

The Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa (HACSA) Foundation is a non-governmental organization (NGO) with a mission to highlight the importance of heritage and culture for sustainable socio-economic development.