Vice President pushes greener Ghana after floods expose cost of environmental neglect

Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has emphasized the importance of environmental awareness in Ghana's development, urging citizens to integrate greening into the nation's growth trajectory. She noted that recent floods serve as a stark reminder of the repercussions of environmental neglect, especially the adverse effects of plastics and household waste on drainage systems and waterways.

"The recent floods gave us a painful reminder of what can happen when we neglect our environment," she stated. "In the aftermath, we spoke plainly about the plastics and household waste that is choking our drains and waterways, and about the need to change how we do many things." Speaking at the opening of the 14th Ghana Garden and Flower Show in Accra, Prof Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the discussion on environmental protection should persist beyond the immediate aftermath of floods.

"That conversation must not end when the flood waters recede," she emphasized. "Keeping Ghana clean and making Ghana greener are part of the same responsibility." Prof Opoku-Agyemang called for a comprehensive approach to greening, moving beyond merely preventing waste from entering drains and waterways to actively investing in trees, gardens, and green spaces.

"Greening should therefore not be something we consider after development; greening should be part of development itself," she asserted. She encouraged local authorities, developers, and businesses to cultivate a greater demand for green spaces, ensuring that local producers are equipped to meet the burgeoning market and capitalize on export opportunities.

The Vice President also highlighted the economic potential of horticulture, noting that green spaces encompass more than aesthetic value and can contribute to businesses, employment, and livelihoods. "Behind what we see are growers, skills, services, markets, and livelihoods," she explained. She advocated for a more holistic approach to the horticultural value chain, encompassing transport, storage, quality standards, finance, and access to markets.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang mentioned government initiatives such as the Feed Ghana Programme, which provides opportunities for the sector, particularly through support for irrigation, improved inputs, greenhouse production, and market access. She also referenced the Tree for Life initiative and efforts to engage assemblies in maintaining and enhancing green spaces in towns and cities.

For the youth, she noted that horticulture offers opportunities at the crossroads of agriculture, technology, creativity, and enterprise. "A greener Ghana begins with how we understand and care for the environment around us," she concluded. She urged training institutions, financial institutions, the private sector, and industry groups to contribute to building a stronger green economy. "We are all stakeholders in this enterprise," she affirmed.