Simone Giger On Rebellion & Growth

On an episode of WOMAN, host Lerny Lomotey, sat down with H.E Simone Giger for a deeply reflective conversation on identity, upbringing and the experiences that shape strong women.

For Ambassador Giger, being a firstborn came with expectations that were clear from the start. Responsibility, discipline and the pressure to always “be the example.”

“As a firstborn, you’re the responsible one. You have to watch your younger siblings. And my parents were quite protective of me… while my next sibling had much more freedom.”

That structure shaped her but it also sparked resistance.

“At some point, I didn’t want to conform anymore. I didn’t want to always be the ‘good child.’ I wanted to be my own person.”

Her rebellion began early, rooted in questioning traditional gender roles within the home.

“My mom wanted me to cook and do chores because I was the girl. But I refused. I said, ‘Call my brother. Let’s share the work.’”

She emphasises that her resistance wasn’t about avoiding responsibility it was about fairness.

“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to help. I just didn’t understand why I had to do it because I was a girl.”

That mindset, she notes, still resonates today as conversations around equality continue to evolve especially on social media.

“People are talking about it more now. But that doesn’t necessarily mean things have changed that much. Social media is a double-edged sword.”

Reflecting on her upbringing in Switzerland, she describes a society that was deeply conservative at the time, particularly around gender expectations.

“When I was growing up, it was very traditional. Even today, many women from my village work part-time and focus on family life.”

She hails from Bischofszell, where she says her path stands out among her peers.

Now serving in Ghana, Ambassador Giger sees unexpected parallels between the two nations.“Both countries are peaceful, democratic and have very friendly people, just expressed in different ways.”

She also highlights similarities in governance philosophies, referencing Ghana’s historical stance under Kwame Nkrumah.

“There’s a shared approach of evaluating issues independently rather than aligning strictly with global power blocs.”

Interestingly, her journey into diplomacy wasn’t intentional. “I never planned to become an ambassador. I just wanted to see the world and have an interesting career.”

Yet, those around her always believed she was destined for it. “When I told my family, they said, ‘We always knew.’ I was the only one surprised.”

Even today, that same strong-willed nature remains a defining trait. “If something goes against my sense of fairness or justice, I will speak up. That’s who I am.”

It’s a trait she now embraces and even encourages in the next generation.