The Head of the Parks and Gardens Unit at the Office of the President, Edem Kojo Doe, has called for the urgent need for deliberate investment in Ghana’s green spaces, describing his department as “a critical key stakeholder in maintaining our environmental, economic, and social sustainability.”
Speaking to JoyNews, Mr. Doe explained that the Department of Parks and Gardens is the only institution officially mandated by law to ensure that every green space in Ghana is properly maintained, executed, and sustained.
“Even under the law, before you build a house, you must consult Parks and Gardens officials to get the right plants and the right species to create the ambience you are looking for,” he said.
Mr. Doe lamented the declining public awareness of the department’s mandate, insisting that horticulture is often misunderstood as being about beauty alone.
“We cannot talk about environmental, economic, or social sustainability without Parks and Gardens. Green spaces are neutral spaces. When people gather in a park, nobody cares who is Ga, Ewe, Akan, Muslim, or Christian. They simply enjoy the space,” he said.
He also highlighted the vital role plants play beyond aesthetics.
“Before you get food on your table, it takes a flower to pollinate your crops. Without pollination, there is no tomato, no garden egg, no fruit. Even the flowers people undermine have a critical role to play in the food we eat,” Mr. Doe explained.
On sustainable landscaping, Mr. Doe emphasized designing with nature rather than against it.
“The moment you design against nature, you create chaos—flooding, destruction, and environmental challenges. Sustainable landscaping is about choosing the right plants for the right space, designing beyond beauty, and ensuring it lasts for generations,” he said.
He added that plants also purify the air, reduce stress, and help people connect with nature.
Despite preserving botanical gardens and tree-lined streets, Parks and Gardens faces severe underfunding and staffing shortages. The department, which once had 5,000 staff nationwide, now has fewer than 400, with a decade-long recruitment freeze worsening the situation.
“Even in the era of artificial intelligence, you still need people to tend and nurture green spaces. Gardening is not something AI can replace,” Mr. Doe said.
He traced part of the challenge to structural changes since independence. Originally a full ministry under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, it now operates under the Ministry of Local Government, competing for limited funds with 261 assemblies.
Mr. Doe argued that green spaces should be viewed as revenue-generating assets.
“If Anloga District develops just a one-acre green zone, that space can host weddings, outdooring ceremonies, or festivals. Even at ₵1,000 per event, the district would generate steady income while creating jobs,” he said.
He recommended policies requiring every Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assembly (MMDA) to maintain a Parks and Gardens office and integrate recreational grounds into local development plans.
Mr. Doe encouraged households to take initiative in small-scale gardening.
“You don’t need vast land. You can grow food and flowers in plastic containers, cocopeat, or sawdust. Instead of throwing plastics away, recycle them into containers for gardening,” he suggested.
To achieve the green transformation seen in Singapore, Thailand, and the UK, Mr. Doe advocated for a consistent annual budget of ₵10 million for Parks and Gardens, alongside gradual recruitment of young people into the sector.
“Gardening is not an event; it is a process. If we want sustainability, we must be intentional—just as we are intentional about health care and education,” he stressed.
Looking ahead, Mr. Doe highlighted new technologies supporting sustainable landscaping in Ghana.
He noted that the country is losing fertile topsoil, but alternatives such as coconut peat, recycled materials, and hydroponics—growing plants in water—are already being adopted. Greenhouse farming, he added, can maximize yields on smaller plots.