Accra, March 22, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Tuesday commended Switzerland for sustaining the technical and budgetary support it is providing to Ghana, especially through non-governmental organisations for people in the rural areas.

The assistance package had deepened years of bilateral relations, he said, when he interacted with Mr Georg (ED. Correct) the out-going Ambassador of Switzerland to Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo. Vice President Mahama called for increased co-operation in the areas of trade and investments.

He congratulated the Scandinavian country for joining the United Nations, adding that Ghana was confident of achieving the Millennium Development Goals of the world body.

Vice President Mahama asked Mr Zubler to be a good ambassador of Ghana at his next point of duty.

Mr Zubler said Ghana was the first country South of the Sahara, Switzerland established formal links with. He said the Basel missionaries from his country were in Ghana 179 years ago to contribute, not only towards the spiritual development of the West African State but also in the areas on health, education and trade.

Mr Zubler said his country was supporting the private sector and the economy through the venture capital fund, public finance management and the banking sector. Switzerland is also supporting the provision of railway services from the Northern Sector of Ghana to the South. Mr Zubler said Switzerland was directing most of its activities in the West African Sub-Region through Ghana due to the peaceful and stable nature of the country .

He said Ghana still faced daunting challenges in making the dream of becoming a middle income economy by 2015 a reality. Mr Zubler said the end of his five-year official duty in Ghana had come too fast. " I feel very sorry to leave because I was comfortable in Ghana".