The Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Simone Giger, has called for more women’s participation in Ghana’s political sphere.
According to her, while it is noticeable the great value Ghanaian society places on women and their participation in traditional and social settings, their lack of national politics is a matter of concern that ought to be remedied.
Speaking at the celebration of Swiss National Day at the Swiss Embassy in Accra, she called for active measures to encourage the participation and integration of more women into Ghana’s national politics.
“Moving to Ghana a year ago, I have been impressed by how many women hold influential positions across various spheres – be it in the private sector, academia, the creative industries, in different Ministries and agencies, or in the judicial system.
“Yet, there remains a notable gender gap in Ghanaian politics. Historically, Ghanaian culture has valued women’s contributions, evident in sayings such as ‘Y3 kc bisa Aberewa,’ meaning ‘we are going to consult the old woman,’ – used when counsellors are faced with a dilemma and must consult.
“‘Aberewa ayi poma kwan mu’ – the old lady has cleared the log from our path – is said when a clear course of action is seen. The value of women has always been inherent in Ghanaian culture. It should also be mirrored in the political sphere,” she said.
She further extolled the good relations Switzerland has kept with Ghana over the years – from the country’s colonial period to date.
She urged for more bilateral cooperation in areas of trade, climate sustainability, and education among others.
“Today, Switzerland is one of Ghana’s largest trading partners. Our total trade with Ghana reached a record $3.6 billion in 2022, out of which about $3.4 billion were exported from Ghana to Switzerland.
“For emphasis, half (actually 50.4%) of all Ghana’s exports to Europe, go to Switzerland. Over 50 Swiss companies also have made Ghana their home, providing jobs and contributing to the economy.
“Economic development cooperation remains a key pillar of Switzerland’s collaboration with Ghana, with a focus on strengthening institutions and effective public service delivery.
“Switzerland is active in the areas of private sector development and trade promotion, decentralisation and investments in local public infrastructure, vocational and tertiary education, public financial management, as well as electricity sector reforms and renewable energy.
“Under a landmark climate protection agreement signed between Switzerland and Ghana in 2020, Switzerland can partially offset its CO2 emissions through emission-reducing projects in Ghana.
“The world’s first bilateral climate protection project under the Paris Agreement was concluded between Ghana and Switzerland and launched at COP-27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in November last year.
“Switzerland is also engaged in maintaining peace and security in the region through its support for the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre – KAIPTC.
“Hundreds of Ghanaians and other ECOWAS citizens benefit each year from courses supported by the Swiss Government,” she said.
“With regard to peace and security in the region and beyond, our two countries have closely collaborated within the UN-Security Council in the past year, demonstrating that our strong ties do not only hold bilaterally but also come into play at the multilateral level.
