by Alex Osei-Boateng

ACCRA, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Ghana on Wednesday marked the National Chocolate Day amid a drive to increase consumption of locally-made chocolate and other cocoa products.

The day has since its introduction in 2007 served to increase awareness on the positive effect of cocoa consumption.

As part of events lined-up to observe the day, an exhibition of cocoa-based products, alongside the chef's culinary, was held in the capital Accra.

The exhibition gathered chocolate makers and sellers from across the country who displayed their creative products to the public.

Cocoa has been the mainstay of Ghana's economy over the years, but citizens of the world's second largest cocoa producer reportedly have a low cocoa consumption rate.

In response, the government has introduced cocoa consumption into the country's school feeding program to boost local patronage.

Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Catherine Abelema Afeku said her outfit was using the occasion to show how to add value to cocoa.

"So it is not only chocolate; it is a cocoa, from the pod to all the other things that we can do with it," she told Xinhua.