Horticulture can contribute to growth — Access Bank
Access Bank (Ghana) Limited is urging both public and private sector leaders and institutions to make meaningful investments and encourage professionals in the horticulture sub-sector to boost its growth and development.
“If well developed, the horticulture sector can contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic growth by helping to create employment and diversifying its revenue streams through export,” the Head of Corporate Communications at Access Bank Ghana, Matilda Asante-Asiedu, has said.
Speaking at the first ever Flower and Garden fair at the Efua Sutherland Park in Accra, Mrs Asante-Asiedu said countries such as Kenya in East Africa had a vibrant horticulture industry which accounted for more than three per cent of their total productivity or Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“We are not far from reaching this height, given the favourable weather conditions that we enjoy across the country”, she stressed.
Access Bank (Ghana) Limited supported Stratcomm Africa and Ghana Trust to organise the maiden Ghana Garden and Flower Fair in Accra, which was on the theme: “Sustainable Gardening in Ghana”.
According to the bank, the support was in line with its belief in environmentally friendly initiatives and the value it placed on the socio-economic importance of the environment and its conservation.
Mrs Asante-Asiedu indicated the bank’s readiness to support initiatives and programmes that would make the environment more conducive for individuals and businesses operating in the country.
She noted that was in line with Access Bank’s CSR Policy which was reflected in the manner in which the bank conducted its business operations in all its operational countries, including Ghana.
The Flower and Garden fair also explored new ways of using horticulture as a tool for employment and income generation, while it educated the public on the benefits of environmental beautification and provided the drive to implement the national gardening policy.
Access Bank prides itself as an environmentally friendly institution and it upholds responsible and innovative business practices.
It is one of the few banks that have environmental and social risk Policies which ensure that all lending decisions include considerations of the impact of clients’ activities on biodiversity, deforestation as well as air and water pollution.
“This policy is reinforced by the bank’s “Going Green” initiative recently launched to track, report and manage its environmental footprint performance,” Mrs Asante-Asiedu said.
By Samuel Ablordeppey/Daily Graphic/Ghana
