Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, has been elected as the new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. Her selection was confirmed at the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (#CHOGM2024) in Apia, Samoa.
Succeeding outgoing Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, Baroness Scotland of the United Kingdom, Botchwey was praised for her leadership and vision. Upon the election, Baroness Scotland shared on X: “It is my honour to pass the baton to my dear sister, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, as the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.”
Strong Support and Endorsement
A seasoned diplomat, lawyer, and politician, Botchwey competed with two other African candidates, Lesotho’s Senator Joshua Setipa and Dr. Mamadou Tangara of Gambia. Her candidacy had full support from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama. President Akufo-Addo expressed his confidence in Botchwey’s ability to “lead our aspirations for renewal and build resilient, thriving economies through Commonwealth cooperation and action.”
Meeting Highlights
The CHOGM2024 meeting in Apia, Samoa, emphasized the theme “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth,” addressing democratic resilience, human rights, and the rule of law. Notably, this was the first Commonwealth summit held since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the first presided over by King Charles III as Head of the Commonwealth.
Botchwey’s Vision for the Commonwealth
During her campaign, Botchwey highlighted her dedication to the Commonwealth’s mission and the impact it can have for its 2.68 billion citizens. “I’m motivated to see the Commonwealth realize its enormous potential as one of the world’s most influential organizations, second only to the UN,” she said.
As a former diplomat with notable achievements, Botchwey’s experience spans across key international milestones. While serving as Ghana’s representative on the UN Security Council (2021-23), she championed Resolution 27/19 to secure UN funding for African-led peace operations. Additionally, her role as Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers saw her actively promoting regional stability and governance reform.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey’s leadership is expected to strengthen the Commonwealth’s global influence, reinforce democratic values, and address critical issues such as climate change, especially for small and island states.
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