By Patrick Biddah
The Ghana Garden and Flower show, which began a few years ago, has chalked 10 years already.
From a humble beginning of the show with only 14 exhibitors and 1, 400 visitors, the Ghana Garden and Flower Show, has grown over the years.
As at last year , 2021, the show recorded 149 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors, indicative of the exponential growth the flower show has seen over the years and the interest it has generated in Ghanaians.
Recounting the humble beginning of the show, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Strategic Communications Africa , madam Esther Cobbah, who launched the activities to mark 10 years , indicated that it begun with the use of a friend’s old truck to distribute the flowers.
The flower show , according to her, has ever since grown gradually to becoming a platform for knowledge sharing on flora and fauna.
For her , the benefits which abounds in the growing of plants, have been highlighted in the area of export for foreign exchange and a source of employment.
Although, there have been challenges arising out of destruction of the gardens to make way for astro turf and the discouragement from people sometimes, she said she is not giving up.
The show , which has traditionally been held at the Afua Sutherland Park, is seeking to move to a bigger and more convenient venue in view of the bad nature of the grounds .
The launch of the 10 year activities which came off on Wednesday August 31, 2022, will end on Sunday September 4.
Under the theme : “Growth Unleashed” the activities, include a karaoke night on Thursday September 1 , a movie night on Friday September 2, a fashion show on Saturday and Sunday ends the event with competition on greenery and awards.
The Country Director for the World Food Programme, Ms.Barbara Clemens, who was the Special Guest Of Honour, pledged the support of the World Food Programme
She said growing of flowers and having a garden, are a contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.
In his keynote address, a professor of pathology and friend of the environment, Prof Agyeman Badu Akosah, encouraged parents to inculcate the habit of growing flowers in children, so that they can appreciate the benefits, while growing up.
Sponsors of the event among others include; Stanbic bank , Goldkey properties, Akai House clinic , Interplast and Ecobank.
