Cocoa Festival launched at Akuapem-Mampong

Akuapem-Mampong(E/R), Sept. 23, GNA - A health walk was organized from Larteh Junction to the first cocoa farm established by Tetteh Quarshie at Akuapem-Mampong over 100 years ago to launch the first cocoa festival. Participants in the walk were taken through processes of production and drying of cocoa beans and some were given a guided tour of the first cocoa farm and the Jubilee Cocoa Farm. The participants in the programme later visited the Museum at the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm Reception Centre where they were addressed by the former Minister for Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey appealed to the chiefs and people of Mampong-Akuapem to support cocoa festival for it to grow into a major world tourism festival. He said such a small programme could grow into a major tourism programme that could provide employment and wealth to change the economy of the Akuapem area. The Akuapem-North District Chief Executive, Mr Edward Adu-Aboagye, said the road between Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm Junction and Mampong Nkwanta would be completed soon to open up the area for further development. The Mankrado of Mampong-Akuapem, Nana Ansah Owora III, appealed to government to support the chiefs and people of the area to organize the 130th anniversary of Tetteh Quarshie next year.