Switzerland has rich relationship with Ghana – Ambassador

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Ghana, Mr Phillip Stalder, has noted that Ghana and Switzerland have a rich and cordial relationship.

His comment comes as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo embarks on a two-day historic working visit to Switzerland on Friday and Saturday, 28 and 29 February 2020.

Mr Akufo-Addo will be the first president of Ghana, since 1957, from a sub-Saharan country to visit Switzerland.

The Swiss Ambassador to Ghana said at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, 26 February 2020 that: “The bilateral relations between Ghana and Switzerland are excellent and rich in tradition. In fact, the Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana this year celebrates its 60th anniversary.

“For Switzerland, Ghana is of growing importance in tackling global challenges and cooperating politically and economically. This two-day state visit demonstrates the growing depth of our long-standing and friendly partnership”, said Ambassador Stalder.

“Ghana is, indeed, Switzerland’s second-biggest trading partner in Africa. In 2019, Switzerland recorded a trade rate of 2.5 billion USD with Ghana. Gold and cocoa exports to Switzerland account for the majority of trade.

“Under its development cooperation programme, Switzerland has invested more than 370 million dollars and supports Ghana to diversify its economy and use its resources sustainably.

“For example, Switzerland works with the Ministry of Finance to improve the management of revenues from natural resources.

“Switzerland also cooperates with Ghana under the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) and launched the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa with the aim of improving social, environmental and economic sustainability of the cocoa sector.”

For his part, the Head of Cooperation at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in Ghana, Mr Mathias Feldmann, said: “Ghana has been one of the few countries for the economic development cooperation of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) since 2002. It will remain one of the next strategy period.”

Source: classfmonline.com