President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to constitutional reforms, cocoa value addition and support for Ghana’s creative industry as he bade farewell to the outgoing Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Simone Giger.
Madam Giger, who is ending her four-year diplomatic assignment in Ghana to take up a new posting in Uzbekistan, paid a courtesy call on the President at the Credentials Hall of the Presidency in Accra.
During the meeting, President Mahama praised the ambassador for her contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and Switzerland, describing her tenure as one marked by dedication and strong cooperation.
The President also acknowledged Switzerland’s support for Ghana’s Constitutional Review Process, revealing that the Cabinet was set to finalise the government’s position paper before handing it over, together with the Constitutional Review Committee’s report, to the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee.
He said the move would pave the way for the implementation phase of the constitutional reform process.
President Mahama noted that while the 1992 Constitution had provided the foundation for Ghana’s longest period of democratic governance under the Fourth Republic, periodic amendments were necessary to ensure it remained relevant to the country’s evolving governance needs.
He also highlighted growing cooperation between Ghana and Switzerland in the cocoa sector, particularly efforts to promote local processing and value addition.
According to him, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire had recently agreed to intensify local cocoa processing to reduce dependence on raw bean exports and maximise economic benefits from the industry.
The President further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revitalising Ghana’s creative arts sector, disclosing that GH¢20 million had already been transferred into the Film Fund to support the growth of the local film industry.
He announced that an additional GH¢20 million would be allocated to the Creative Arts Fund next year to support other creative professionals, with future funding expected to depend on the effective utilisation of the resources.
President Mahama expressed appreciation to Madam Giger for her service, describing Ghana as her “second home” and commending the strong relationships she had built, particularly within the country’s creative community.
In her remarks, Madam Giger thanked President Mahama and the people of Ghana for the warm hospitality she received during her tenure.
She reaffirmed Switzerland’s support for Ghana’s democratic development, expressing confidence that the Constitutional Review Process would further strengthen the country’s governance and democratic institutions.
