Ghana’s Vice President Opoku-Agyemang calls for greening to be part of development
Ghana’s Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, called for environmental protection and greening to be viewed as an integral part of national development. She spoke at the opening of the 14th Ghana Garden and Flower Show, MyJoyOnline reports.
According to the vice president, recent floods should not be the only reason to discuss waste management, drainage and the environment. She stressed that these conversations must continue after floodwaters recede.
Greening and development
Opoku-Agyemang said that as cities and settlements expand, the country must pay greater attention to trees, gardens and green spaces. According to her, greening should be considered part of development rather than an issue addressed only afterward.
The vice president also linked the environmental agenda to economic opportunities, particularly in horticulture. She noted that gardens and flowers have not only aesthetic value but also create an economy connected with producers, professional skills, services, markets and livelihoods.
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Opportunities for horticulture
According to Opoku-Agyemang, government programs, including Feed Ghana, are creating opportunities to expand the horticulture sector, where vegetables are among the priority crops. She named irrigation, improved production resources, greenhouse production and market access among the areas of support.
She also mentioned farmer service centers being established across the country to bring export support services, resource supplies, machinery and market linkages closer to producers. The environmental agenda, she said, aligns with the Tree for Life initiative, under which millions of seedlings are being planted.
The vice president called on local authorities, developers, businesses, educational and financial institutions to cooperate in developing a green economy. She also called for creating more opportunities for young people in horticulture by combining agriculture with technology, creativity and entrepreneurship.
