Fourth Ghana garden and flower show underway

- PROMOTES ECOTOURISM AND THE UNITED NATIONS SDG’S

Accra- 10th September, 2016: The fourth edition of the Ghana Garden and Flower Show has opened at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra. The Show aims to promote and deepen a Gardening and Flower culture in Ghana.

This year’s Show seeks to highlight how horticulture and floriculture can contribute to the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Ghana. The theme is, “Dream It, Discover It, Live It with a focus on the 5 Ps of the UN Sustainable Development Goals- People, Prosperity, Partnership, Peace and Planet.

In her welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Stratcomm Africa, Ms. Esther A.N. Cobbah said “the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement remains committed to the pursuit of a greener, healthier, wealthier and more beautiful Ghana”. She expressed gratitude to the numerous sponsors who in diverse ways supported the successful organisation of the Show.

Ms. Cobbah announced, “we will crown this year’s exciting activities with the second edition of the Ghana Garden and Flower Awards” and urged all lovers of flowers and gardens to come witness the amazing work people are doing in their gardens.

The Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, who chaired the opening ceremony, expressed the commitment of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to partner with private sector initiatives such as the Garden and Flower Show, “this aptly falls in line with my Ministry’s policy objectives, namely; the Diversification and expansion of the tourism industry for economic development, the intensification of the promotion of sustainable tourism to preserve our historical, cultural and natural heritage“, she noted.

Mrs. Ofosu Agyare revealed that as part of development of the marine drive tourism investment plan, the Ministry has re-zoned the entire parcel of land stretching from Osu Klottey lagoon to the Accra Community Centre for development as a tourism enclave. “This flagship project will accelerate private sector investments in the horticulture and floriculture industry. It is therefore my wish that when this project is rolled out, we will have the needed local capacity to meet all garden and flower requirements” she stated.

The Malaysian High Commissioner to Ghana H.E Cheong Loon-Lai who opened the fair drew similarity between the aim of the Ghana Garden and Flower Show and the world acclaimed Malaysian flower show,“it is no different from the aim of our show in Malaysia. It is for this reason that we at the High Commission are pleased to be associated with this show. We are, really going to develop links between the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement and the Horticulture and Floriculture industry back home to facilitate collaboration between Ghana and Malaysia in the spirit of South-South cooperation” he emphasised.

H.E Cheong Loon-Lai added that “Malaysia understands the importance of celebrating nature and of imbibing the culture of caring for our world into the next generation, and so we are delighted to see that this is what the Garden and Flower Show in Ghana is also about”.

The annual event is geared towards ensuring a cleaner, greener, healthier and wealthier Ghana through enhancing horticultural and floricultural activities.

This year’s edition of the show features an exhibition of various flowers and garden accessories, workshops, a conference, Fashion extravaganza, party in the park, and Jazz night. The Show ends on Wednesday, 14th September 2016.

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Editor’s Note

About the Ghana Garden and Flower Show

The Ghana Garden and Flower Show is a flagship activity of the innovative Ghana Garden and Flower Movement that was initiated with the first edition of the Show in August 2013. The movement seeks to create awareness among Ghanaians about the commercial, aesthetic and psychological benefits of horticulture and floriculture. It seeks to celebrate Ghana’s unique flora and fauna, whilst pointing people to the income generating and job creation opportunities inherent in them. Ultimately, the aim of the Show is to encourage the harnessing of our flora and fauna for national development and improved livelihoods.

About Stratcomm Africa

Stratcomm Africa is a total Communication, Reputation Management, Events Management and Research Agency specializing in evolving and implementing communications strategies for companies, individuals and governmental institutions in both national and international settings.

Stratcomm Africa is proudly collaborating with its partners to promote and deepen a Gardening and Flower culture in Ghana. Stratcomm Africa believes in using communications to stimulate socio-economic development. By organizing the Ghana Garden and Flower Show and promoting a Garden and Flower movement in Ghana, Stratcomm Africa is using its expertise to generate awareness among Ghanaians about available natural resources for livelihood enhancements and national development.

Stratcomm Africa is also facilitating information sharing, knowledge transfer, and skills development through its role in the Garden and Flower Show and its related conference and workshops.

Stratcomm Africa also employs the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement and Show, as a platform to reinforce Ghana’s position as a compelling investment and tourist destination through the promotion of beautiful Gardens and Flowers in Ghana. Vintage Events, a member of the Stratcomm Africa Group, manages the event.

About the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals, officially titled “transforming our world - the 2030 agenda for sustainable development”, includes a set of 17 sustainable development goals to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030. All the 17 SDGs are connected to UNDP’s strategic plan focus areas: Sustainable Development, Democratic Governance and Peace Building and Climate and Disaster Resilience. They focus on areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet as outlined in what is known as the 5 Ps, namely; People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership.

Media Contact:

Doris Anokyewaah Antwi

DAntwi@stratcomm-africa.com

0243145661