Editorial
Let’s keep making Val’s/Chocolate Day more engaging for youth
Ghanaians have been eating chocolate and cocoa products since the beginning of time, both as children, youth or adults.
However,the choice to make February 14, which is Valentine’s Day, a Chocolate Day in Ghana has boosted the urge to consume more made-in-Ghana chocolate and cocoa-products.
Infact,it would be unfair to commend this outstanding initiative without acknowledging its initiators although Ghana is known for producing cocoa.
In collaboration with the Cocoa Processing Company of Ghana, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) launched the activity in 2005.The late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, who was the Minister of Tourism at the time, came up with the concept as part of the Ghana@50 celebrations.
In contrast to the past, when some of the youth engaged in promiscuity, Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey will always be remembered for introducing Chocolate Day on Valentine’s Day, which has brought more dignity to the Day’s celebration.
It would also be appropriate to honour Tetteh Quarshie, a Ghanaian blacksmith who imported cocoa beans from the island of Fernando Po (now Bioko in Equatorial Guinea) to Ghana in 1898.
Since cocoa has historically contributed significantly to Ghana’s economic prosperity, it is wise to recognise the farmers who grow this esteemed product and turn it into the delicious treat that delights millions of people across the world.
More interestingly, Ghanaians and other citizens have made a conscious effort to share chocolate and cocoa productswith their loved ones on Valentine’s Day since the introduction of Chocolate Day in 2005. This has helped to promote Ghanaian chocolate to the international community.
Itis also wonderful that COCOBOD and GTA expanded the celebration from a single day to a week-long event in 2021, and it has been well-run ever since.
The Spectator is pleased to report that the GTA, in partnership with COCOBOD and the CocoaProcessing Company, has planned a variety of events to commemorate this year’s National Chocolate Week, which began on February 3rd and ended yesterday, February 14th, 2025.
Among the events were visits to churches, the Chief Imam, cocoa communities, exhibitions andspending time with schoolchildren. Other events include a durbar with stakeholders, a chocolate feast, a street float, regional involvement, and yesterday’s chocolate experience at the Kotoka International Airport.
With the theme “Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy, Grow Ghana” and the sub-theme “Chocolate for all: taste, share, and care,” the events engaged the youth and increased awareness of the health advantages of chocolate consumption.
The Spectator suggests that the engaging, enjoyable, educative, and unforgettable activities be sustained and, if possible elevated. Let’s keep making Valentine’s/Chocolate Day more engaging for the youth.
Dear Editor,
Over the past few months, the ages of some drivers of commercial vehicles continue to baffle me.
This is common during weekends when one boards any of the commercial vehicles – be it trotros and okada.
I remember, I boarded a taxi from the Accra Central area towards the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area. When I sat in the vehicle, I realised the driver was a young boy. Specifically, he said he was 18.
I know our laws do not permit youth under the age of 21 to be driving; that is clearly against Ghana’s Road Traffic laws for operating commercial vehicles.
Some commuters have even had confrontations with station masters over the issue and have refused to board vehicles driven by underage individuals, despite the risk of arriving late for work.
This situation is deeply disturbing because it puts the lives of passengers and other road users at risk.
No matter how skilled such drivers may be, allowing underage persons to operate commercial vehicles is wrong and unlawful. Laws governing road safety are meant to protect lives, and ignoring them only increases the chances of accidents and loss of lives.
I therefore urge the relevant authorities, especially the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, to strictly enforce the age requirements for commercial driving in the country.
Baba
Labadi
The advantages of focusing on girls have been evident over the years. However, current research indicates that the statistics pertaining to boys are still declining.
Approximately 69 percent of boys and 73 percent of girls finish primary school. While Senior High School (SHS) enrollment trends have lately changed, with females significantly outnumbering males (about 110 girls to every 100 boys), Junior High School (JHS) gender parity remains stable, with the Gender Parity Index (GPI) remaining between 1.00 and 1.03.
The Gender Parity Index (GPI) indicates parity between girls and boys.
Although encouraging education for girls is essential for Ghana’s development, the strong emphasis has unintentionally led to inequalities for boys.
Many stakeholders worry that affirmative action and unequal resource distribution put males at risk, which can occasionally lead to increased dropout rates and behavioural issues in specific neighbourhoods.
There has been a lot of discussion among Ghanaian sociologists and educators about the disproportionate support given to girls and how it affects boys.
They claim that the majority of scholarships and special facilities are frequently disproportionately given to girls, which boy child advocates contend makes young men feel ignored or disadvantaged.
Due to these differences, Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, Vice Chancellor of Pentecost University, has voiced serious concerns and is pushing for a deliberate discussion about the education and development of boys in order to build stronger families and societies.
The statement was made by Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua during a seminar hosted by the Church of Pentecost Schools Outreach Ministry in Accra on May 16, which is International Day of the Boy Child.
It was organised in association with the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) under the theme “Flourish and Thrive: Investing and Unleashing Boys for Strong Families and Communities.”
Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua revealed that many young males are vulnerable due to inadequate mentoring, a decline in schooling, negative social media influences, and emotional neglect.
Additionally, he stated that the boy child faced numerous difficulties, including aggression, substance addiction, academic decline, emotional neglect, and the lack of strong role models, as a result of the focus shifting to the girl child.
He worries that since boys are essential to the development of the country, they should not be overlooked in discussions about leadership, education, family stability, and national reform.
The Spectator agrees with Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua and believes that while it is important to train girls, neglecting boys can impede social advancement by causing differences in behaviour and education between young men and women.
“If we don’t make an effort social media will train our children for us. We’re not saying they shouldn’t use social media, but we should help them get the information they need to succeed in life,” he said.
The Spectator believes that the GES would adopt gender-responsive education in order to guarantee that classroom instruction meets the requirements of both boys and girls equally.
Let’s continue to be dedicated to making sure that no child is left behind.
