The Ghanaian community in Switzerland on Saturday, 9th December 2006, organized a party to welcome His Excellency Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, the new Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Ghana to Switzerland and Austria and the European Offices of the United Nations in Geneva and Vienna.
Present at the ceremony were members of the Ghanaian community as well as officials of the Ghana Permanent Mission in Geneva and Berne respectively. His Excellency was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Edith Baah-Duodu, and Mr. Paul Aryene, the Deputy Permanent Representative.
In a brief ceremony, prayers were offered for Ghana, the Ambassador and his family and Ghanaians living in Switzerland by Rev. Father Kwame Labi, Pastor Mary Attafuah, Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi and Pastor George Asafu-Adjie. Thereafter, the Ambassador, who had previously served in Switzerland in the 1980s, was officially welcomed back to Geneva on behalf of the community by Mr. Frank Kofi, an elder of the Community and it was like a family reunion. This was the first time Ghanaians in Switzerland had organized a welcoming party for a new Ambassador.
Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador expressed his appreciation for the honour done him and pledged to promote the interests of Ghana in Switzerland, Austria and in the various international organizations in these two countries.
Apart from the consular services offered by the two Missions, the Ambassador also reiterated his previous announcement in Berne that he would devote the third and last Friday of every month in Geneva and in Berne respectively to open surgeries.
Touching on investment, the Ambassador urged Ghanaians to take advantage of the attractive investment opportunities in Ghana. He, however, cautioned members to use professional services and institute effective mechanisms once a decision to invest was taken.
The Ambassador further informed the gathering of on-going preparations being made towards the celebration of the golden jubilee anniversary of Ghana next year. He appealed to all to make inputs towards the planning and implementation of the programmes for the year-long celebration. Besides the commemorative activities, he urged members to contribute towards a golden jubilee project in Ghana.
The Ambassador had in the previous month met members of the Ex-Ghana Swiss Association - an Association of Swiss Citizens who had lived in Ghana in the past.
