Dr Thomas Oertle appointed Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Benin and Togo 

By James Amoh Junior, GNA 

Accra, Aug. 14, GNA – Dr Thomas Oertle has been appointed Ambassador-designate of Switzerland to Ghana, Benin and Togo, bringing extensive diplomatic and international cooperation experience to the three-country assignment. 

His appointment follows the completion of the four-year diplomatic tour of Switzerland’s former Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Simone Giger, whose tenure saw strengthened cooperation between Ghana and Switzerland in governance, trade and investment, climate action, peace and security, and sustainable development. 

The Embassy of Switzerland in Accra, in a statement on Friday, said Dr Oertle’s appointment formed part of Switzerland’s continued commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnerships with Ghana, Benin and Togo. 

He previously served as Switzerland’s Head of Mission in Muscat, with responsibility for the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Yemen. 

Dr Oertle served as Regional Head for Swiss International Cooperation in the Horn of Africa, based in Nairobi, with responsibility for Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. 

His other diplomatic assignments included Head of the Middle East and North Africa Division of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Bern, as well as Deputy Head of Mission and subsequently Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Switzerland in Damascus, where his responsibilities covered Syria and Iraq. 

Before joining the diplomatic service, Dr Oertle studied molecular biology and neuroscience at ETH Zurich and the Neuroscience Center Zurich, where he obtained a Doctorate in Natural Sciences. 

Speaking about his new assignment, Dr Oertle noted that he looked forward to strengthening Switzerland’s longstanding partnerships with Ghana, Benin and Togo through dialogue and closer engagement with stakeholders across government, business, academia, civil society and culture. 

“Diplomacy is ultimately about people. I want to listen to different perspectives, bring people and ideas together, and identify areas where Switzerland and its partners can pursue common interests,” he was quoted as saying. 

The statement said Switzerland had long-standing and diverse relations with Ghana, Benin and Togo, covering political dialogue, trade and investment, economic cooperation, climate action, peace and security, as well as growing exchanges between people and institutions. 

It said Switzerland remained committed to further developing those relationships based on mutual respect and shared interests. 

Dr Oertle assumes his new responsibilities at a time when Ghana-Switzerland relations encompass a broad range of development and economic interests. 

Switzerland has been a longstanding development partner of Ghana, with bilateral cooperation extending to sustainable cocoa production, renewable energy, climate action, decentralisation, peacekeeping and private-sector investment. 

More than 55 Swiss enterprises operating in Ghana have contributed to the country’s economic growth in areas including agribusiness, manufacturing and logistics, employing more than 8,500 people. 

The new assignment provides an opportunity to build on the established relations while identifying new areas of common interest between Switzerland and its West African partners. 

GNA 

Reporter: James Amoh Junior 
Email: [email protected] 
Edited by: Agnes Boye-Doe