Interviews

SWITZERLAND: COMPLEX, NEUTRAL, STABLE  

T.W.D.: Switzerland used to be known more commonly for precision instruments, such as clocks, than for her many other, even more important technological achievements. Can you name some of the most prominent among the latter achievements?

G. Zubler: Besides clocks and watches, we also have chocolate. And, of course, Ghana produces the best cocoa. We have only a few natural resources such as fish, shrimps, etc. But some important sectors are the services sector, banking and insurance, for instance. We produce measuring instruments, precision instruments, pharmaceuticals and particularly medicines and specialty chemicals. We produce agricultural machinery and make considerable use of applied technology. We produce renewable energy devices, such as for solar energy, some of which are in use throughout Ghana. 

T.W.D.: What do you consider the most important aspect of almost 50 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Ghana?

G. Zubler: Relations between the two countries date back to far earlier than 1960 when diplomatic relations were established. It is now 177 years since the first Basel missionaries arrived on the Gold Coast and although their mission primarily was to spread the gospel, they did not limit themselves to this religious task.

As pioneers in the fields of settlement, development, education, medicine, economy, trade and transport, scientific research in languages, the history and sociology of the indigenous population, the Basel missionaries were, to a certain extent, the forerunners of today's development cooperation volunteers. No one, therefore, questions the perception that the work of the Basel missionaries has significantly shaped the development of modern Ghana.

After the repatriation of the Basel missionaries during the first World War, relations between the two countries certainly lost in breadth and depth. But commercial relations continued quite intensely. In 1921, for instance, the Basel Mission Trading Company, established in 1859, was turned into the Union Trading Company (UTC), which not only ventured into all corners of the country but also made its presence felt in almost all of West Africa. UTC attracted many young Swiss to take up jobs on the Gold Coast and the Swiss community grew to become, at one time, the second largest among Western expatriates after the British, and one of the largest in Africa. Quite a few of these immigrants started businesses of their own.

The relative importance of the Swiss community in Ghana was also part of the reason why, in 1966, the Ramseyer Memorial School (RMS) in Accra was founded. It still is the only Swiss School in Africa.Switzerland's development cooperation with Ghana peaked between 1984 and 1991, when balance of payments support totalled CHF83 million. This cooperation has been expanded since 2002 and Ghana is now one of 15 priority countries around the world, and only five in Africa, for Swiss economic development cooperation. 

T.W.D.: As a development partner, Switzerland must have observed keenly the way the Ghanaian economy has been going these past few years. What would you say has been of the most interest to Switzerland?

G. Zubler: We believe that the development of the private sector is the basis for poverty reduction, together with the government's Poverty Reduction Strategy. Switzerland believes that Ghana is capable of increasing its production in order to integrate itself into the world trading system.

In the last three years Ghana has performed quite well by allowing businesses to have access to funds. But considerable streamlining of administrative procedures is also needed. Switzerland is supporting the Electricity Company of Ghana with technical and management assistance, as well as assistance for the expansion of rural electrification. Switzerland is also helping the Ghana government in effective and efficient revenue mobilisation, in the running of the venture capital fund and in developing a strong private sector.

The Swiss business community continues to show a healthy interest in Ghana because of the positive developments and the stability in the country. High ranking economic and business visits were exchanged between Swiss and Ghanaian officials and business representatives in 2004 and I think this is an encouraging sign. 

T.W.D.: What is the Swiss position on debt cancellation?

G. Zubler: Switzerland fully supports the debt cancellation initiative. As a sign of solidarity Switzerland joined the team of creditors to arrive at the decision. At the bilateral level, Ghana does not owe any debt to  Switzerland. 

T.W.D.: What hope do you envisage for Ghana's economy in view of current developments?

G. Zubler: The government's objective of developing the private sector is key to a strong and vibrant private sector. Switzerland is glad that Ghana was able to arrive at the HIPC Completion Point in record time. Now it needs to adhere strictly to prudent fiscal policy in order to avoid falling into the debt trap again. We hope that Ghana would use the resources accruing from HIPC to her maximum benefit and in a sustainable manner. We hope that the HIPC resources would benefit those in dire need of development, such as those in the northern regions, and that some of them would be channelled towards decentralization.     

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