Garden & Flower Show pushes for greener cities
The 13th edition of the Ghana Garden and Flower Show (GGFS) has opened in Accra with a strong appeal for citizens, businesses and institutions to help expand green spaces across the country.
Organisers of the week-long event, running from 20 to 28 September at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, said greening urban areas is critical for public health, climate resilience and sustainable development. This year’s theme is “Urban Places, Green Spaces.”
Since its launch in 2013 with only 14 exhibitors, the show has grown to nearly 100, drawing thousands of visitors annually. According to Stratcomm Africa CEO, Esther Cobbah, the expansion reflects the power of collaboration and consistency.
“The growth of this show demonstrates the impact of working together. To the organisations who seasonally decorate cities for beautification, I entreat you not just to cover the realities of these concrete jungles with light, but to cover the city with plants,” she said.
Former Maldives president and Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, Mohamed Nasheed, highlighted the economic opportunities in Ghana’s Climate Prosperity Plan, noting that trees could become an asset in carbon trading.
“An average tree captures 15 kilograms of carbon, which Ghana can trade with countries that exceed their carbon emissions,” he explained.
Mr Nasheed also pointed to carbon credits as a potential revenue stream.
Registrar-General, Ama Issahaque, underscored the role of innovation in horticulture, explaining that Plant Variety Protection (PVP) laws grant breeders exclusive rights for up to 25 years, helping them recover investments and boosting sector growth.
Representing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Audrey Quarcoe praised companies embracing clean energy and recycling but urged more businesses to turn environmental challenges into opportunities.
“Green urban spaces are not luxuries, they are public health necessities,” she stressed.
Ms Quarcoe further encouraged citizens to support tree-planting initiatives and urged schools to establish garden clubs to promote environmental stewardship among children.
