Dominic Gyasi, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North region, has unveiled plans for a pioneering festival centred on cocoa, aimed at residents of the area.
Dubbed “The Cocoa City Experience”, the festival, according to the MCE, seeks to spotlight the multifaceted benefits of cocoa, extending beyond the bean to encompass utilisation of typically discarded pods.
“Aside the cocoa pods which can be used to make soap and other things, there’s potential to use them as fertiliser to enrich our soil. So we won’t just throw them away. We’ll look for investors to help us tap into these benefits fully,” he stated in Twi.
According to him, the Western North region alone accounts for about 55 per cent of Ghana’s total cocoa production, a comparative advantage he believes should be leveraged for the overall benefit of residents.
Speaking on Onua TV’s morning show, Maakye, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the MCE announced the inaugural event will take place in November.
“Since we produce a significant chunk of Ghana’s cocoa, I’m introducing ‘The Cocoa City Experience’ in Sefwi Wiawso. The Deputy CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Abeiku Aggrey Santana, was present during the launch. Our maiden edition will run from November 15th to 22nd, a week-long celebration,” he said.
He believes Sefwi Wiawso and the Western North region should reap the greatest benefits from cocoa given their status as the largest producers, suggesting the festival will be an annual event aiming to spotlight the crop and the area globally.
“We hold a comparative advantage over others due to our significant cocoa production, so if others benefit, it stands to reason those of us producing more should benefit even more. We’re working to establish this as an annual festival to reposition our cocoa profile. During the week-long celebration, we’ll undertake community cleanup exercises and host events like a Diaspora Homecoming and a Cocoa Symposium, with the CEO of Cocobod expected to attend,” he said.
Aside from cocoa-centric activities, the MCE revealed the festival will feature additional programmes like business exhibitions, offering young entrepreneurs opportunities to take insights from seasoned business leaders to bolster their own.
“Our Sefwi Wiawso Business Forum and Exhibition will enable emerging entrepreneurs to benefit from the experiences and narratives of established business people,” he said.
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