By Paul Mamattah
Strategic Communications Africa (Stratcomm Africa) in collaboration with Ghana Garden and Flower Movement, has launched the 10th edition of the Ghana Garden and Flower Show (GGFS) in Accra with a call on all stakeholders to see green living, as a collective responsibility and take up innovative and responsible ways to protect the environment.
GGFS is the flagship event of the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement, an initiative of Strategic Stratcomm Africa, aimed at promoting horticulture and floriculture in Ghana, as well as creating awareness about the commercial, environmental, health and aesthetic benefits of flowers and gardens.
This year’s event is on the theme: “Growth Unleashed” scheduled to take in Accra from August 31 to September 4, 2022.
The event is expected to showcase innovative products, ranging from plants/flowers, garden tools, garden ornaments, flower pots, soil conditioners, agrochemicals, garden-inspired fashion, garden furniture, cosmetics and other green living related products and services.
Speaking at the event, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council, Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, who was the guest speaker, said Stratcomm Africa, has been leading the initiative to uncover potentials of the ornamental plant industry not only to create jobs, but has also initiate and to sustain important conversations about the environment, climate change and it impact on our wellbeing as a country.
She noted that, aside from its economic advantage, flowers, also enhanced the beauty of nature and make the environment look more welcoming adding that; flowers have a way of adding colour and increasing the feel-good factor in our space.
Giving out statistics, Mrs Trebarh, indicated that the World Ban, has stated that the global horticulture market is estimated to be valued at 20 billion Dollars in 2021 and is projected to reach 40.24 billion Dollars by 2026.
She also indicated that a post from Economic Times publication, indicated that India has horticulture contribution to GDP of about six percent, which India is expected to have the highest ever horticulture production of 329.86 million tons which will be an increase of two percent of previous year of 2021.
Mrs Trebarh, added that the global flower and ornamental plant market was valued 475.6 million Dollars in 2020 and is expected to reach 725.4 million Dollars by the end of 2027.
“Europe is the largest ornamental plant market with about 47 percent market share, Asia follows accounting for 20 percent of market share. Subsequently you have South America and Middle East and unfortunately Africa is last when it comes to ornamental plant industry”. She stated.
She urged the youth to tap into ornamental plant industry which according to her is lucrative and job creating industry; urging young people in Africa especially Ghana to unleash the opportunities, unleash their talents and unleash their innovative ideas to unleash their solutions.
The Acting Director of Parks and Gardens, Reverend Charles Nii Ayitey Okine, commended the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement all Gardens and flower enthusiasts for their diligence in sustaining the fragile but growing floriculture industry in the country.
He stated Department has not only provided its unwavering support to the GGFM but has also benefited immensely from the partnership through the promotion of activities of the Department and the creation of awareness on the importance and benefits of floriculture industry.
Mr Okine reiterated that the floricultural industry has a wide range of benefits including its contributions to the country’s Gross Domestic Products, employment among others and the Department has the mission to facilitate the rapid development of the horticultural potentials of Ghana which includes the floricultural industry.
He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to seek the service of the Department in landscaping their homes contrary to concreting them, as this will aid in combatting the twin crises of the climate change and biodiversity loss.
