Switzerland remains one of Ghana’s long standing development partners, supporting initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive economic growth, strengthening local governance, protecting the environment and enhancing regional peace and security.
To this end, Ghana and Switzerland have maintained long standing cordial diplomatic relations for decades with co-operation spanning trade and investment, climate action, peacebuilding, governance, education, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture.
The Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Simone Giger, made this known at a reception to commemorate the 735th National Day of Switzerland.
Farewell reception
The occasion also served as a farewell reception to celebrate the outstanding achievements and remarkable contribution of the outgoing Swiss Ambassador for strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and Switzerland during her four-year duty tour.
The celebration was attended by Ministers of State, members of the diplomatic core, Members of Parliament, Traditional leaders, the Swiss community in Ghana and development partners.
The Ambassador noted that Switzerland's governance model continued to be admired globally for its stability and commitment to citizen participation in decision-making, stressing that the country was better defined by its strong institutions, unique democratic system, civic participation, innovation, economic freedom and peace.
Deeply rewarding
Ms Giger described her four years in the country as a deeply rewarding one as she travelled extensively across various parts of the country, notable among them being Paga, Damongo, Wa, Prang and Keta.
She said most of her journeys were by road, giving her first-hand experience of Ghana's diverse landscapes and transport network.
According to her, Ghana presents a remarkable combination of natural beauty and cultural diversity, with its traditions, languages, music, festivals and artistic expressions making it one of the most culturally rich countries she has encountered.
The Ambassador praised the creativity, energy and confidence of young Ghanaians, describing them as a strong indication of the country's development potential.
Governance challenges
She, however, acknowledged challenges in governance and institutional systems and added that stronger institutions and greater transparency were essential to unlocking Ghana's full potential but expressed grave concern about environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, describing the destruction of rivers and forests as a threat to both the environment and future generations.
Despite these concerns, she said Ghana's optimism, resilience and warmth stood out throughout her stay.
Quoting the proverb, "The bird that does not fly does not eat," she stressed the importance of action in realising potential and also referenced Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah's words, "Forward ever, backward never," as a reminder of continuous progress.
Mutual respect
For his part, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, who represented the government praised the longstanding relationship between Ghana and Switzerland, describing it as productive and mutually beneficial.
He said the two countries had built strong cooperation in governance, trade, investment, development, climate action, peace and security as Ghana shared Switzerland’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance and creating opportunities for young people to reach their full potential.
“As you rightly observed, our greatest resource is our people and together we must create the conditions that allow them to thrive,” he said.
Mr George highlighted Switzerland's support for Ghana's cocoa sector, renewable energy, decentralisation agenda and climate initiatives, as well as the contribution of more than 50 Swiss companies to Ghana's economy through investment and job creation.
The minister also acknowledged Switzerland's financial, equipment and technical support to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) for peacekeeping and peace support operations training.
