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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
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
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Energy Minister announces full restoration of power generation units after major grid disruption
Energy Minister, John Jinapor has announced that all power generation units affected by the recent national grid disruption have been fully restored and are back in service.
According to the Minister on social media, engineers, technicians and emergency response teams worked continuously to restore electricity supply and stabilise the national grid after the incident caused major challenges within the power sector.
In a statement, the Minister praised the efforts of personnel from the Ghana Grid Company Limited, Volta River Authority and Electricity Company of Ghana for their commitment and coordination during the emergency.
“Mission accomplished. All generation units are now back in service,” the Minister stated.
He explained that despite the scale of the disruption, technical teams worked around the clock to restore power and secure stability within the system.
“Through their tireless work, discipline, and commitment to country, power has been restored and system stability secured,” he said.
The Minister further expressed appreciation to the leadership and staff of GRIDCo, VRA, ECG and other supporting agencies for their collective response to the crisis.
According to him, the successful restoration of the system demonstrates the resilience and capability of Ghanaian professionals in times of national difficulty.
“This moment shows that even under pressure, Ghana can rely on the strength and skill of its people,” he added.
The Minister offered prayers for the country’s energy sector and the engineers who led the restoration efforts.
“May God bless our engineers, our energy sector, and our nation,” he stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
