Delegates of the Young Diplomats of Ghana (YDG) Cohort VI have paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador of Switzerland to Ghana, Simone Giger, as part of their diplomatic immersion programme aimed at deepening participants’ understanding of diplomacy, international cooperation and Ghana’s engagement with European partners.
The visit also marked a symbolic moment as Ambassador Giger prepares to conclude her four-year diplomatic assignment in Ghana, a tenure characterised by strong people-to-people engagement and expanded cooperation in economic development, climate action, private sector growth and peacebuilding.
The engagement forms part of efforts to expose aspiring diplomats and young professionals to the practical workings of foreign policy, bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, and the role of diplomatic missions in advancing international partnerships.
The delegates engaged Ambassador Giger on a wide range of issues, including Switzerland-Ghana relations, governance, trade, development cooperation and opportunities available to young Ghanaians through the Swiss Embassy and Swiss-supported programmes in education, innovation and professional development.
The cohort expressed appreciation to the Ambassador for hosting the delegation and commended her contribution to strengthening bilateral relations during her tenure in Accra.
“As she concludes her diplomatic mission, we wish Her Excellency every success in her future endeavours and thank her for her contribution to strengthening the relationship between Ghana and Switzerland,” the cohort said in a post on socialo media.
During Ambassador Giger’s tenure, Switzerland expanded its development cooperation with Ghana through the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s private sector, improving economic resilience and promoting sustainable growth.
One of the flagship partnerships saw SECO join the British International Investment (BII) and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in supporting investment platforms designed to mobilise long-term capital for Ghanaian businesses. The initiative seeks to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enabling business expansion, job creation and inclusive economic growth.
The two countries also continue to build on a strong legal and economic cooperation framework underpinned by bilateral agreements on the promotion and protection of investments (1991), avoidance of double taxation (2008) and intellectual property rights (2010). In 2020, Ghana and Switzerland further strengthened cooperation by signing an agreement under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to support climate change mitigation through international carbon market mechanisms.
Switzerland has also remained a longstanding partner in Ghana’s peace and security architecture as one of the principal development partners supporting the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, contributing to peacekeeping training, conflict prevention and regional security capacity-building across West Africa.
Beyond economic and security cooperation, Switzerland has supported inclusive industrial development through initiatives such as Partnerships for Economic Development with Women (PE4DW). Launched in 2022 and piloted in Ghana, South Africa and Vietnam, the programme seeks to improve productivity, strengthen value chains and create better employment opportunities for women working in Ghana’s shea and textile industries while promoting greater use of locally sourced raw materials.
The courtesy call reflected the Young Diplomats of Ghana’s broader mission of nurturing the next generation of foreign policy practitioners by providing direct engagement with serving diplomats, while highlighting the enduring partnership between Ghana and Switzerland across diplomacy, sustainable development, trade, climate action and peacebuilding.
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