The two countries have long-standing good relations based on mutually beneficial exchanges. Their ties are particularly strong in the areas of economic and environmental cooperation.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Ghana
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
Switzerland has drawn up a strategy for sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2021–24.
Ghana is one of Africa's lion economies. These are African countries with big economic potential, particularly in terms of investment and trade, and dynamic growth.
Switzerland and Ghana have concluded bilateral agreements on the promotion and mutual protection of investments (1991), double taxation (2008), and intellectual property rights (2010). In 2020, they also concluded a cooperation agreement on climate change mitigation (in line with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement).s.
Sub-Saharan Africa Strategy 2021–24 (PDF, 48 Pages, 3.1 MB, English)
Agreements for the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
Economic cooperation
Ghana is an important trading partner for Switzerland in Africa. In 2022, Switzerland's trade volume with Ghana totalled CHF 3.2 billion, 97% of which were gold imports from Ghana. In this context, Switzerland is working with Ghana to improve respect for human rights in the extraction of raw materials. Ghana is also Switzerland's main supplier of cocoa. In the area of sustainability, Switzerland supports the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa, which invests in projects in Ghana.
Swiss exports to Ghana mainly consist of pharmaceutical products and machinery.
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
Researchers who are citizens of Ghana can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists (SERI)
Promotion of peace and human security
Switzerland is one of the three main sponsors of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Teshie, Accra. Several members of the Swiss Armed Forces have been teaching at the KAIPTC since 2006. Switzerland's support helps the KAIPTC to fulfil its function as a centre of excellence for civilian and military peacebuilding. The centre conducts research and offers training programmes. Since 2003, the KAIPT has offered over 170 courses in various areas of peacekeeping.
Development cooperation and humanitarian aid
Ghana has been listed as a middle-income country since 2010. It is one of the priority countries for economic cooperation of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The main objective of SECO's support is to contribute to a resilient and self-reliant Ghana. The priority thematic areas are as follows:
- Promoting attractive framework conditions for sustainable growth.
- Supporting initiatives that create more and better jobs and decent income opportunities.
Information on countries, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO
Swiss citizens in Ghana
According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, 338 Swiss citizens were living in Ghana at the end of 2022 and 1341 Ghanaian citizens were living in Switzerland.
History of bilateral relations
Switzerland recognised the Republic of Ghana on 6 March 1957, the day the country declared its independence. The two countries established diplomatic relations that year.
But the Swiss presence in Ghana goes back much further. As early as 1828 Swiss missionaries from the Basel Mission settled in what was then known as the Gold Coast. The work of the Basel Mission lives on today in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and its schools and hospitals. The missionaries also introduced cocoa growing to Ghana, and today 47% of the cocoa used to manufacture chocolate in Switzerland comes from Ghana.
