Ghana’s second lady, Her Excellency Matilda Amissah-Arthur has advised the youth to consider the horticulture industry as a source of employment.
According to her, the number of employment opportunities for Ghanaians are limitless and as such, attention should be given to the sector.
“It will give employment to people because when we grow we need people to water, harvest, gather and market what is grown. There is no limit to the number of people you want to employ. The bigger the flower plantation, the more people you will employ. So definitely it is a good way of creating employment”, the 2nd lady stated.
Mrs Amissah-Arthur said these at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Ghana Garden and Flower Show held at the Efua Sutherland Park in Accra.
The 2nd lady, who was the chairperson for the occasion, advised the youth to take opportunity of the workshops and conferences being held at the 4 day event and start their own businesses in horticulture to earn a living.
“At this garden and flower show, there are a couple of professors from the university of Ghana who are here primarily because they are engaged in propagation of plants and flowers and they have come to the show to encourage people to take up gardening and they are prepared to teach people how to start their own businesses” she advised.
In her address, former Agric Minister of Kenya and managing director of Zena’s Roses, Dr. Sally Kosgei noted that flowers held huge revenue potential for any country with massive benefits for the citizens as well.
She said that 40% of cut flowers in Europe comes from Kenya with some 1 billion dollars coming into the Kenyan economy. She also revealed that the horticulture industry employs 10 million Kenyans with cut flowers being one of the 3 export earners of the country.
She encouraged Ghanaians to take up the horticulture industry in order to create jobs for unemployed citizens and generate foreign exchange for the country.
Chief Executive officer of Strategic Communications Africa (Stratcomm-Africa) expressed her excitement at the opportunity the Garden and Flower show provided for the celebration of the value of gardens to human life.
This year’s 4 day event includes workshops for expert horticulturists, beginners, children and families. Coupled with exhibitions which will run the entire period, the show will also include a jazz night on 11th September, party in the park on the 12th and a fashion show on the same day.
There will also be a dedicated playground for kids, a farmer’s market and a business networking segment for industry players. The final day of the event will have a conference, an awards ceremony and launch of the Ghana Garden and Flower clubs.
