Accra: Switzerland has marked its 735th National Day with a reception in Accra that reaffirmed the longstanding relations between Ghana and Switzerland. The ceremony also honoured its outgoing Ambassador, Ms. Simone Giger, for her remarkable contribution to strengthening bilateral relations during her four-year duty tour of Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, the Swiss community in Ghana, business executives, development partners, media practitioners, and celebrities. The reception underscored the longstanding partnership between Ghana and Switzerland, built on mutual respect, democracy, sustainable development, and economic cooperation. The occasion also served as a farewell reception for Ambassador Giger, who was presented with citations in recognition of her outstanding diplomatic service and commitment to advancing Ghana-Switzerland relations across governance, trade and investment, peace and security, climate action, decentralization, and sustainable development.
Ghana and Switzerland have maintained cordial diplomatic relations for decades, with cooperation spanning trade and investment, climate action, peacebuilding, governance, education, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. Switzerland remains one of Ghana's longstanding development partners, supporting initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive economic growth, strengthening local governance, protecting the environment, and enhancing regional peace and security.
In her farewell address, Ambassador Giger reflected on her four-year stay in Ghana, describing it as one of the most rewarding experiences of her diplomatic career. She recounted traveling extensively across the country, from Paga in the Upper East Region to Keta in the Volta Region, Damongo in the Savannah Region, and several other communities, saying the journeys had deepened her appreciation of Ghana's diversity, culture, and hospitality. She praised the country's rich traditions, festivals, languages, music, creative arts, and the resilience of its people.
The Ambassador, however, expressed concern about challenges confronting the country, particularly illegal mining, environmental degradation, governance, and institutional weaknesses. She highlighted the destruction of rivers and forests through illegal mining as a threat to future generations and called for collective efforts to safeguard Ghana's natural resources. She emphasized that 'Ghana's greatest resource is not gold; it is its young people,' urging stakeholders to create opportunities to enable the country's youth to realize their full potential.
Despite the challenges, Ambassador Giger expressed optimism about Ghana's future, citing the country's peaceful nature, resilience, optimism, and strong sense of community. Quoting the Akan proverb, 'Anoma antua a, ?bua da' (The bird that does not fly does not eat), she encouraged Ghanaians to transform their enormous potential into meaningful progress through hard work and action. She also cited another Akan proverb, 'Dua koro gye mframa a ebu' (A single tree standing alone is broken by the wind), to underscore the importance of partnerships and collaboration in addressing national and global challenges.
Ambassador Giger stated that Switzerland would continue to work closely with Ghana in areas including democracy and governance, trade and investment, peace and security, climate adaptation, international development, and cultural exchange. She expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for their warmth and hospitality throughout her stay, saying she would leave Ghana with cherished memories.
Mr. Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, representing the Government of Ghana, congratulated the Government and people of Switzerland on their National Day and commended Ambassador Giger for her exemplary service and dedication to promoting the longstanding friendship between the two nations. He described Switzerland as one of Ghana's trusted development partners, noting that the two countries continued to enjoy excellent bilateral relations anchored on shared democratic values, respect for human rights, peace, multilateralism, and sustainable economic growth.
Mr. George highlighted Switzerland's support towards national development through investments in renewable energy, decentralization, climate resilience, peacebuilding, and sustainable cocoa production. He noted that more than 55 Swiss companies currently operated in Ghana in sectors including agribusiness, manufacturing, and logistics, providing employment for more than 8,500 people. He also mentioned the Ghana-Switzerland Cooperation Agreement under Article Six of the Paris Agreement on climate change, under which Ghana transferred nearly 11,700 metric tonnes of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) to Switzerland, with Switzerland providing CHF65 million to support implementation of the cooperation programme.
In conclusion, Mr. George reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.