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Meet the New Commonwealth Secretary General, Ghanaian Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey

At the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, on Friday, October 25, leaders announced the appointment of Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, as the 7th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. 

Botchwey, a former lawmaker and deputy minister, who has served as Ghana’s foreign minister since 2017, succeeds Patricia Scotland, who has held the position since 2016.

The Ghanaian is also the second ever African, after Nigeria’s Emeka Anyaoku (in 1990), to head the Commonwealth, and the second woman to do so (after Scotland).

“It is my honour to pass the baton to my dear sister, the Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who will succeed me as the next Commonwealth Secretary-General. She will be uniquely blessed, as I have been, to hold this office and serve our precious Commonwealth,” Scotland had posted on X.

“I pay tribute to you for your distinct leadership over your tenure and for the work you have done as Secretary-General to make the Commonwealth stronger,” Botchwey replied.

The Ghanaian minister has a wealth of experience in diplomacy spanning almost two decades. During the administration of former Ghanaian President John Kufuor, Botchwey served as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs for four years. Prior to that, she held the positions of Deputy Minister for Information and Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry.

Prior to her appointment as Secretary-General, Botchwey said, “I will use my well-known passion for accountable governance, and my extensive experience working with global leaders on interventions involving diplomacy, trade, youth, gender and democracy, to reposition the Commonwealth, fulfil our aspirations, and improve the lives of our people.”

Earlier on her official X account, the new Commonwealth Secretary General stated that she was “truly humbled by the overwhelming support of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in selecting me as the incoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. The work indeed lies ahead!

“I’m honoured and humbled by the trust of Commonwealth leaders. A lot of work lies ahead. But together, we shall work for a New Commonwealth that works for all its citizens.”

Congratulating Botchwey on her appointment, Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, wrote on X, “Today, I feel a deep sense of pride and joy in congratulating Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway on her election as the next and 7th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. As the first Ghanaian to hold this position, her selection speaks to the strength of her character and her dedication to service, as well as to the esteem in which our nation, Ghana, is held amongst her peers.

“For years, I have watched her serve Ghana, Africa and the international community with unshakeable commitment and grace. Her work as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is a testament to her devotion to bridging divides and building meaningful partnerships. She carries with her a vision of inclusivity and progress that I know will inspire the Commonwealth family and guide it towards a future of hope and unity.”

The secretary-general is nominated by Commonwealth leaders and can serve a maximum of two terms of four years each.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal sovereign states with a combined population of 2.7 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under.

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