Switzerland and Ghana is reported to have recognized the quality of their bilateral relations. This was one of the major highlights of the visit of President Doris Leuthard to Ghana, on Wednesday 12th of July, 2017.
Ghana, the release identified, as Switzerland’s main trading partner in Africa. According to a Press release published and distributed by APO, on the subject matter, it is reported that another cooperation strategy for 2017 to 2020 was launched in the presence of Ms Leuthard and Ghana’s president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The Press release from the Federal Council of Switzerland confirmed that “Ghana is one of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs’ (SECO) priority countries for economic development cooperation.” And that “one of the aims of this program is to increase Ghana’s economic competitiveness.” Ghana is therefore described as “an anchor of stability in West Africa” which “since 2010 has been classed as a middle-income country.”
It will be recalled that “Ghana is currently Switzerland’s main cocoa supplier. According to estimates, “Trade between Switzerland and Ghana was worth CHF 2.38 billion in 2016, a significant increase over the previous year.” As a matter of fact, reports show that “there was a particularly sharp rise in gold imports from Ghana to Switzerland (+ 81.6 per cent).” As it stands, “Ghana has been Switzerland’s main African trade partner since 2016, ahead of South Africa.”
It is however reported that the “State Secretary, Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, Ghana’s Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and several members of the Ghanaian government took part in the discussions.” And that “SECO Director, Ms Ineichen-Fleisch and Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, signed a declaration of intent to launch the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa. This, according to the Press release published by APO on behalf of the Federal Council, Switzerland, “is an initiative by the Swiss chocolate industry, civil society and SECO to improve social, ecological and economic sustainability in the cocoa industry.”
From a recap of the event, it is learnt that the official talks focused on economic and trade issues, where the delegations underlined their constructive cooperation in the field of migration and their dialogue on energy and environmental policies. The session also featured talks around Security and the regional situation.
Correspondent: Ridwan A. Olayiwola
