The volume of trade between Switzerland and Ghana hit $1.8 billion in 2014 and continues to rise.

Mr Gerhard Brugger, Switzerland Ambassador to Ghana, announced this at 724th National Day of the Swiss Confederation.

He explained that the trade balance is largely in favour of Ghana as half of the cocoa used to produce chocolate in Switzerland comes from Ghana.

He added that Switzerland also imports metals from Ghana, as well as fruits such as pineapple.

According to him, when the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hanna Tetteh, visited Switzerland in May this year, Ghana and Switzerland signed a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation and political consultations with the aim of strengthening closer co-operation on issues of mutual interest.

He mentioned tax reforms, decentralisation and entrepreneurship development as some of the key areas that Switzerland has been assisting Ghana in.

The Ambassador added that Switzerland has also supported various programmes and projects aimed at poverty alleviation and improving capacity building.

Mr Brugger announced some projects in various sectors, including education, that Switzerland is supporting in the country, some of which would soon be commissioned.

He expressed concern about the stalled work of the constitutional reform implementation committee, saying the process has important proposals that can strengthen Ghana’s institutions to move the country forward in the right direction.

He recalled the role of the Basel Mission, through which the Presbyterian Church of Ghana was founded, in sectors such as education, health and social welfare in Ghana’s history.

He noted that Switzerland recognised Ghana on March 6, 1957, when Ghana attained independence and established bilateral relations with Ghana in 1960 when Ghana attained republican status.

Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Mr Seth Terkper, who led the Government of Ghana delegation to the celebration, noted that the Swiss Confederation also contributed to strengthening Ghana’s institutions to formulate and implement sound macroeconomic policies through technical assistance programmes in tax administration and public procurement.

He commended the Government of Switzerland for providing 90 million Swiss Francs for the 2013-2016 Ghana country strategy that focuses on fighting poverty and promoting good governance, as well as strengthening competitiveness and inclusiveness.

He took the opportunity to invite Swiss companies to take advantage of the stable economy and peaceful climate, as well as investment laws to invest in various sectors of the economy such as energy, agriculture and agro-processing, tourism, pharmaceuticals, financial services and banking sector.

Mr Terkper stated that Ghana would continue to rely on Switzerland as a reliable development partner to realise its developmental agenda, which includes providing quality and affordable education and healthcare, in order to build a strong economy that would create jobs, expand infrastructure to enhance growth and encourage local and foreign direct investments.