The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) is responsible for planning and implementing Switzerland’s economic and trade policy measures in developing countries. SECO’s support to Ghana aims at contributing to the implementation of Ghana’s growth and poverty reduction objective of attaining middle- income status. In Ghana SECO concentrates its support on four major areas:

 Sound macroeconomic policies and transparency of public finances 
 Financial sector development and strengthening 
 Trade, competition and investment climate 
 Basic infrastructure regulation and public utilities improvement in the energy

Ghana Public Procurement Authority © FDFA

Switzerland is providing approximately USD 25 million in general budget support to the Government of Ghana from 2009 to 2011 through the Multi-donor Budget Support (MDBS) group. The MDBS consists of a group of 11 development partners who are providing general budget support in a harmonized way. Switzerland is co-chair of this group from June 2009 to June 2010.

Switzerland contributes to strengthening Ghana's institutions to formulate and implement sound macroeconomic policies through technical assistance programmes in tax administration, public procurement reform and funding for the second IMF Regional Technical Assistance Centre for West Africa (AFRITAC West II) hosted in Ghana. AFRITAC West II will provide technical assistance to governments in Anglophone West Africa, including Ghana in designing and implementing sound macroeconomic policies.

Dealer at the Ghana Stock Exchange © FDFA

SECO, jointly with other development partners is funding Ghana’s Financial Sector Strategic Plan (FINSSP) which aims to strengthen good governance, regulation, competitiveness and develop market infrastructure in the financial sector. FINSSP is implemented through the Economic Management Capacity Building pooled fund.
The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets is mandated by SECO to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana with equity funds and loan facilities. Also, SECO and the International Finance Corporation are implementing the Access to Finance programmes to develop the primary mortgage market and credit bureaus in Ghana.

Ghana Standards Board Lab © FDFA

SECO supports Ghana’s Trade Sector Support Programme with technical assistance projects in intellectual property rights; standards and investment promotion as well as strengthening of value-chains for organic cocoa and allanblackia-a tree that produces healthier oil for margarine and cosmetics. The Intellectual Property Rights project supports the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Justice to develop a national intellectual property rights policy.
The Ghana Standards Board and Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate are receiving capacity development to become accredited standards organization and EU competent authority in horticultural inspection respectively.
Switzerland promotes investment through the Investment Promotion in Sub-Saharan Africa programme which provides capacity building to the Ghana Investment Promotion Council to generate foreign direct investment into Ghana. SECO also supports government programmes in competition policy and consumer protection.

Rural Electrification © FDFA

The Ghana Energy Access Development Programme's (GEDAP) objective is to improve the operational efficiency of the electricity distribution system and increase access to electricity. Under GEDAP, SECO is supporting the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and electricity distribution sector. Specifically, SECO is providing technical assistance to PURC to better regulate utility service providers and protect consumers. The electricity distribution sector is being assisted to provide more reliable and efficient services to consumers. Furthermore, SECO is keen to support the development of renewable energy sector in Ghana.

For further information, please contact:
Economic Section
Embassy of Switzerland
Tel.: +233 30 222 50 08 
        +233 30 224 82 26
Fax: +233 30 222 35 83 
E-mail:  acc.economicsection@eda.admin.ch