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The Embassy of Switzerland in Accra has announced the appointment of Dr Thomas Oertle as Switzerland’s Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 14, the Embassy said Ambassador Oertle brings extensive experience in diplomacy and international cooperation to the role.
Before his latest appointment, he served as Switzerland’s Head of Mission in Muscat, where he was responsible for the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Yemen.
He previously served as Regional Head for Swiss International Cooperation in the Horn of Africa, based in Nairobi, with responsibility for Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
He also headed the Middle East and North Africa Division of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Bern and served as Deputy Head of Mission and later Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Switzerland in Damascus, covering 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, Ambassador Oertle said he looked forward to strengthening Switzerland’s longstanding partnerships with Ghana, Benin and Togo through dialogue and closer engagement 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 said.
The Embassy said Switzerland’s relations with Ghana, Benin and Togo cover political dialogue, trade and investment, economic cooperation, climate action, peace and security, as well as growing exchanges between people and institutions.
It added that Switzerland remained committed to further developing these relationships on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests.
