Faith Nyasuguta
In a compelling act of humanitarian diplomacy, Ghana has donated 40 metric tonnes of cocoa-based food products to Palestine, offering both comfort and sustenance amid the escalating crisis in Gaza.
On August 1, 2025, at the Jubilee House in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama formally handed over crates of premium Golden Tree chocolates and cocoa products to Palestinian Ambassador Abdul Fattah Ahmed Khalil al-Sattari. The ceremony, attended by UN officials and members of the diplomatic corps, served as a public gesture of Ghana’s fraternal ties to Palestine.
President Mahama described the donation as both symbolic and practical. Cocoa, he explained, is emblematic of Ghana’s values of resilience, generosity and warmth, and holds cultural significance as a cornerstone of the national economy – supporting millions of Ghanaian farmers. At the same time, cocoa is nutritionally dense – rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, with proven benefits for immunity, cardiovascular health, and emotional well-being, particularly for vulnerable groups like women and children.
In his remarks, President Mahama reiterated Ghana’s steadfast support for a two-state solution aligned with UN resolutions and international law, urging all parties to embrace dialogue and allow unfettered humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. He explicitly called for the opening of Israeli border crossings to facilitate the delivery of relief supplies.
Ambassador al-Sattari accepted the donation on behalf of Palestine, expressing heartfelt gratitude. He remarked that the chocolate would bring joy to children in Gaza, where food insecurity has intensified under prolonged blockade.
The initiative was coordinated by key national bodies – including the Ghana Cocoa Board, Cocoa Processing Company, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – underscoring the government’s institutional commitment to empathy-driven diplomacy.
President Mahama poignantly declared at the event:
“This is not just a box of chocolate- it’s a message. A message of unity, of African empathy, of resistance through compassion.”
Ghana’s act of gifting cocoa to Gaza transcends conventional foreign aid – it’s a powerful gesture of ethical diplomacy, blending nutritional uplift with cultural symbolism. It showcases the country’s historical bonds with Palestine, dating back to the opening of a Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) office in Accra in 1986.
In delivering this aid, Ghana positions itself as a leader of values-driven international engagement – showing that soft power can take many forms, even in the shape of chocolate and compassion. As President Mahama concluded:“To our brothers and sisters in Palestine: you will not walk alone. Ghana stands with you – not just in speeches, but in action.”
This donation comes at a moment when global attention to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is heightened, marking Ghana’s cocoa-based aid as a timely expression of African solidarity and global conscience.
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