The Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur, will perform the opening Ceremony of the four day Ghana Garden and Flower Show (GGFS) on Friday August 30th, 2013 at the Afua Sutherland Children’s Park Accra. The GGFS begins on Thursday August 29, 2013 with an exhibition and a conference and it will end on Sunday September 1, 2013. It is aimed at promoting a flower and gardening movement in Ghana and also highlight critical benefits of gardens and flowers with regard to foreign income generation, job creation, clean and healthy lifestyles, beautification of the country’s public spaces and homes and the promotion of environmental awareness among Ghanaians. The event is under the theme "Sustainable Gardening in Ghana". The Ghana Garden and Flower Show will be attended by policy makers and government officials, academia in the agriculture sector, business community, florists and horticulturists botanists, home owners, estate developers, garden and flower lovers among others. Exhibitors expected at the show include pot makers, sculptors, garden furniture and ornament producers and suppliers, Landscape designers, Architects and hospitality managers, Homeowners, garden enthusiasts and hobbyists. Also participating are Gardening tools producers and suppliers, subsistence gardening operators, and organic backyard gardeners The Show is an initiative of Strategic Communications Africa Limited (Stratcomm Africa), a total communications consultancy and NBC Ghana Trust in collaboration with Keith Kirsten, a world renowned South African Garden and Flower expert. Show participants will also experience hands on teaching by Keith Kirsten and accomplished Garden & Flower experts in Ghana, in the cultivation of flowers and gardens. Mr. Kwame Ayew of NBC Ghana Trust is excited at the forthcoming show which he said will help to unearth the untapped potential that abounds in Ghana’s flora and fauna resources for aesthetic and commercial purposes. Mr Kwame Ayew stressed the need for Ghanaians to take advantage of the country’s natural resources to enhance their livelihoods. He said Ghana is blessed with good sunshine, soil and rain that could be used to grow beautiful flowers to be marketed locally and internationally for good income. Karen Hendrickson, co-author of Ghana's Beautiful Gardens, said Ghana could position itself internationally as a strong exporter of flowers. She noted the value that flowers and gardens have contributed to countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Kenya and Togo among others which are major exporters of flowers. She added that “with the rich soil and other natural resources here, Ghana can also export flowers on a large scale”. The CEO of Strategic Communications Africa, Ms Esther Cobbah, says “Stratcomm Africa is delighted to be championing sustainable Gardening in Ghana and collaborating with other stakeholders to organize this event, Stratcomm Africa warmly invites all to come, discover and experience the abundance of nature”. “Beautiful gardens contribute to the creation of a peaceful and serene environment and Ghana’s attractiveness will be further enhanced and reinforced if we pay more attention to nurturing our flora and fauna. We have no doubt that sustainable gardening can help reinforce Ghana’s position as a compelling investment destination.” she stated. Sponsors of this innovative initiative include Royal Senchi Hotel, an environmentally conscious 5 star hotel in the Atimpoku area in the Eastern Region of Ghana (Headline Sponsor), Access Bank Ghana Limited, Regimanuel Gray Estates Limited and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) (Lead Sponsors). Media partners include Joy FM, Citi FM, Business and Financial Times, Insight Newspaper, TV Africa, TV 3, Metro TV and Enquirer. The show will be held annually with the movement being sustained throughout the year with various activities.