He, therefore, called for attitudinal and behavioural change among Ghanaians to ensure sustainable protection of the environment and natural resources.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said this when he launched the Fifth Edition of the Ghana Garden and Flower Show in Accra. The media launch preceded the main event slated for August 31- September 4 at the Efua Sutherland Children's Park being organised by Stratcomm Africa.

 The flower show aims at increasing public awareness on the need to grow flora and fauna for aesthetic, beautification and health benefits. Prof. Frimpong-Boateng noted that promoting the cultivation of flowers was an avenue for creating employment and eradicating poverty.

He cited Kenya and Ethiopia where horticulture and floriculture had created jobs for millions and flower experts earned millions of dollars in foreign exchange. He commended the organisers for creating a platform for preserving the environment and creating awareness of job opportunities and income generation and pledged the Ministry's support to ensure a successful programme.

The Minister said businesses and individuals had realised that garden and flowers were not only objects of beauty to the eye and healing to the distressed soul but also good for individual livelihoods.

He, therefore, called for the need to deepen national awareness to addressing the phenomenon of climate change and environmental degradation. "My Ministry will partner the Ghana Garden and Flower Show Movement to promote the education and empowerment of all Ghanaians by increasing awareness of, and concern for, environmental issues," he said.

Prtof. Frimpong-Boateng, therefore, urged the media to give environmental issues a pride of place in their reportage and programming to stem the tide of environmental degradation in the country. Madam Esther Cobbah, the Chief Executive Officer of Stratcomm Africa, said promoting Ghana's flora and fauna and its environmental, commercial, aesthetic and health benefits would aid in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of reducing poverty, income generation and livelihoods enhancement.

"Flower Ghana specifically expresses the goal to make Ghana beautiful and create a congenial environment for its citizens as well as to promote Ghana as a tourism destination and an investment of choice," she said.

Some activities lined-up for this year's programme include technical conferences and practical workshops on flora and fauna, a movie night and exhibition, as well as a jazz night and fashion show. The five-day event would be held on the theme: "Flower Ghana, Grow Ghana," and more than 15,000 visitors are expected to participate from home and abroad.