The second Ghana garden and flower show opened in Accra to provide awareness for the beautification of the country, enhance its green space and make it a pleasant habitat for the citizens.

The goal of the show is also to create awareness about the commercial and psychological benefits of urban beautification and gardening, while contributing to make the country a compelling investment and tourism destination.

The initiative, of Ghana Garden and Flower Movement, was designed to promote tourism, healthier and modern lifestyles, and also help create employment and income earning opportunities that would support the country’s growth and development.

Mr Hans Docter, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo, expressed surprise at the lack of interest and appreciation of majority of Ghanaians regarding gardening and floriculture.

He attributed this to the lack of knowledge of the business opportunities that the industry presents.

He said the sector currently contributes heavily to the Gross Domestic Product of the Dutch Government, and Ghanaians could do the same to enhance job opportunities to improve both local income and foreign exchange earnings.

He promised to collaborate with partners to make Ghana’s horticultural and floricultural industry blossom.

Ms Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah, Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Communication Africa (Stratcomm-Africa) said the success of the first garden and flower show in 2013, served to stimulate more export from horticulture and floriculture.

He said creating the enabling framework that encourages entrepreneurs to take up opportunities that are being highlighted is critical to the required success.

He gave the assurance that the Movement would continue to advocate priority attention to the value that is awaiting to be captured for the country.

The 11-day show, which on the theme: “Gardening for Value- Health, Beauty, Jobs and Income,” would have conferences, workshops and exhibitions where resource persons from the academia, horticultural experts as well as policy makers would discuss and brainstorm both the health and economic benefits of gardening and flowering.

Ms Cobbah thanked the sponsors and partners of the programme for their support and promise to sustain the show as an annual event.

Mr Murtala Mohammed Ibrahim, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, called on Ghanaians, especially the youth, to take advantage of the opportunity of the show to generate employment opportunities both for themselves and their peers to enhance their income.

He said his outfit is ready to partner with the Movement to develop the needed policies and create the enabling environment to expand the sector and expose young entrepreneurs to the international market for more foreign exchange.

Mr Julius Debrah, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development called on the public to exhibit positive attitudes towards gardening and maintaining flower gardens to beautify their environment and pledged to make this a personal campaign from his outfit.