Accra, Aug. 20, GNA - The newly formed Gadangme association of Switzerland was formally launched in Zurich last Saturday by Mr Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Ghana's Ambassador to Switzerland and Austria and Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Geneva and Vienna. Representatives of the GaDangme associations in Holland, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom as well as from the umbrella GaDangme unions in Europe attended the launch, according to a statement from the Embassy.

In his address, Mr Baah-Duodu expressed his appreciation to the executives and members for their bold decision to form the association and praised them for upholding and propagating the languages, customs and traditions of the GaDangme people.

He expressed the hope that the association would grow and be financially sound in order to be able to organise week-end and vacation programmes in GaDangme traditions and languages for the young ones and those who want to learn about the rich culture of the Ga culture. In this regard, he encouraged the association to teach their children about Ghana's heroes.

Mr. Baah-Duodu urged members of the association to consider investing in Ghana and take the advantage of a new financial arrangement which the Swiss Government had put in place to support residents of Switzerland who want to invest in their countries.

He expressed the hope that the newly launched association would help to promote understanding, create an ideal environment for trust and cooperation between Ghana and Switzerland and thereby strengthen relations between the two countries.

In his welcoming address, the Interim Chairman of the Association, Mr Jeff Quaye, informed the gathering that the association intended to initiate and support charitable projects in Ghana to assist development efforts. He also promised to work with all Ghanaians in Switzerland to project Ghana's good image in the country.