The Embassy of Switzerland in Accra has announced the appointment of Dr Thomas Oertle as Switzerland’s Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo.

Dr Oertle succeeds to the diplomatic assignment with extensive experience in international diplomacy and development cooperation, having served in several senior positions across Africa and the Middle East.

In its announcement issued on Friday, August 14, the embassy said his previous assignments included serving as Switzerland’s Head of Mission in Muscat, Oman, with responsibility for Oman and Yemen.

He also served as Regional Head for Swiss International Cooperation in the Horn of Africa, based in Nairobi, where he oversaw Switzerland’s cooperation with Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

Other positions held by Dr Oertle include Head of the Middle East and North Africa Division of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Bern, as well as Deputy Head of Mission and later Chargé d’affaires at the Swiss Embassy in Damascus, where he covered Syria and Iraq.

Dr Oertle’s academic background is in the sciences. He studied molecular biology and neuroscience at ETH Zurich and the Neuroscience Center Zurich before obtaining a doctorate in natural sciences.

Commenting on his new assignment, Ambassador-designate Oertle said he was committed to deepening Switzerland’s relations with Ghana, Benin and Togo through engagement with stakeholders across the three countries.

“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 engagement with the three West African countries spans several areas, including political dialogue, trade and investment, economic cooperation, climate action, peace and security.

It said people-to-people and institutional exchanges were also becoming an increasingly important part of the relationship.

The embassy added that Switzerland would continue working with Ghana, Benin and Togo to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation based on mutual respect and shared interests.