CHOCOFEST IN KUMASI (PAGE 21, FEB 20, 2010)

THE Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) added flavour to this year’s Valentine’s day in Kumasi when it organised Chocofest—a quiz, fashion and dance competition to mark the celebration.
Chocofest, a two-day programme, was hosted at Fourth Gardens at Ridge last Saturday, February 13 and Queens Gate Restaurant and Pub at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday, February 14.
The celebration of Valentine’s Day, which had been associated with heavy downpour in Kumasi in the past, was this time blessed with favourable weather conditions throughout the weekend in the Garden City.
This gingered up the youth especially to venture out in their numbers on Saturday to usher in the festive of love. As usual, the dominant colours were red. The ladies especially wore beautiful head styles and trendy clothes.
With live bands belting out different styles of music, revellers took to the dance floor in rapid succession and displayed their dancing skills .
With their appetite whetted and desirous to outdo each other to win the prizes at stake patrons put up their best and at the end, some of them succeeded in attracting the organisers to win various awards.
For being the best dressed couple award on Saturday, Mr and Mrs Derrick Frimpong received a prize to wine and dine at Moti Maha Restaurant. Mr James Babbe, a German was adjudged best dancer and received a prize to have lunch with two friends at Queens Gate Restaurant and Pub. Mr Augustine Osei Owusu who came second, received a prize to dine at Abusua Restaurant.
At the Queens Gate Restaurant and Pop on Sunday, Mr and Mrs Lord Adika won the best dressed couple and received a night stay at Noda Hotel, Fumeasua.
Rev Dr. and Mrs Adu Agyei who emerged well behaved couple received a night stay at the Anita Hotel, Ejisu. Abigail Sarfo and partner who won the dance competition received a night stay at the Cetakel Hotel.
For emerging tops during the quiz competition, Messrs Kwadwo Asante, Emmanuel Opoku , Anthony Kwaku Kyem and Ms Afia Asantewaa, were given hampers of chocolate products as prizes.
In a chat with Showbiz, the Acting Ashanti Regional Manager of the GTB, Mr Ekow Sampson said GTB was more determined than ever to put decency into the celebration of Valentine day for the benefit of the nation at large.
“ We would not only intensify the campaign to use chocolate to celebrate the day but would also motivate the youth to refrain from using the day to indulge in immorality.
“ Putting decency into Valentine’s day would not only make the youth lead healthy lifestyles, but would also increase the patronage of chocolate, thus increasing productivity for the industry to generate the requisite resources to sustain the growth of the economy”,he said.
On the selection of the Fourth Gardens and Queens Gate Restaurant and Pub for the celebration of the event in Kumasi, Mr Sampson said the two spots are not only popular in Kumasi, but have also been identified as adhering to the regulations governing the hospitality industry.
“ We want to instil professionalism into the operations of the hospitality industry to make them live up to their responsibilities. We would continue to reward those who put up the best practices as a way of motivating others to emulate them” he added.