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10th Ghana Garden and Flower Show takes off August 31
• Madam Esther Cobbah (inset) speaking to guests at the launch
Ahead of the 10th edition of the Ghana Garden and Flower Show (GGFS), individuals and corporate bodies have been encouraged to maintain a serene environment and tap into opportunities in the horticulture industry.
Members of the Ghana Garden and Flower Movement (GGFM) insist it is better to preserve green and attractive landscape instead of engaging in activities that impact the environment negatively.
It is against this backdrop that Strategic Communications (Stratcomm) Africa and its partners are once again leading the advocacy to ensure “a greener, cleaner, healthier and wealthier Ghana.”
This year’s event, scheduled for August 31 to September 4, is themed “Growth Unleashed.” It comes with exciting activities and is expected to attract hundreds of players in the industry both home and abroad.
Sufa unveiling the artwork for the event
Ms Esther Cobbah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stratcomm Africa, speaking at the launch on Monday in Accra, highlighted the economic and aesthetic value of flowers and gardens and commended partners who have supported the show since its inception.
Calling for more collaboration in pushing the green agenda, she expressed worry over noise pollution and poor sanitation and urged developers not to turn the capital city into “concrete jungles.”
She said although the past 10 years had been a difficult journey, GGFM was focused on its mission and help contribute to fighting climate change.
“We are unleashing growth, we are unleashing the beauty and value that Ghana has and we will not stop. Let us make our country beautiful; this is our land, this is our heritage. We can make Ghana more beautiful than the countries we want to go,” she said.
Shlomit Sufa, Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Liberia and Sierra-Leone commended Stratcomm Africa and partners for championing a greener and cleaner environment over the years.
She said the GGFS will “forever be special event” as it was the first show she attended when she arrived in Ghana.
Announcing the start of the Isreali Green Innovation Competition, she said the competition instituted in 2019 will continue to honour individuals and organisations that come up with innovative ideas that promote environmental conservation and agriculture in Ghana.
She said winners of this year’s contest will receive fully paid trip to Israel to participate in industry-related meetings, excursions and conferences to learn best practices and seek potential investors to expand their existing business.
Mrs. Mawuena Trebah, Chief Business Strategist, Inspire Africa Consult, also admitted the floriculture industry was a lucrative industry that can employ more young people.
Rev Charles Okai, Director of the Department of Parks and Gardens, said the department had benefited immensely from collaborating with the GGFM over the years and would continue to support initiatives aimed at protecting the environment.
By Ernest Nutsugah & Elizabeth Ackon
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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