By Hannah Dadzie
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has been elected as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth at the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, the capital of Samoa, a Pacific Island nation.
The seasoned diplomat faced strong competition from two other African candidates: Mamadou Tangara, the Foreign Affairs Minister of The Gambia, and Joshua Phoho Setipa, former Trade Minister of Lesotho.
In an official post on X, the Commonwealth announced, “Today at #CHOGM2024, Commonwealth Heads of Government have selected the Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, currently the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, as the incoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.”
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey expressed her honour and gratitude for the trust Commonwealth leaders have placed in her, acknowledging the work ahead for building a Commonwealth that benefits all its citizens.
In a personal post on X, she wrote, “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!”
She succeeds Baroness Patricia Scotland, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Dominica, whose second and final term ends at the end of 2024.
Following the announcement, Baroness Scotland shared on X “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.”
With nearly two decades of experience in governance and diplomacy, including her role as Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister since 2017, Botchwey has been a consistent force for progress. She is well-known for her initiatives that have strengthened Ghana’s diplomatic services, such as establishing the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) to enhance the skills and working environment for Ghanaian diplomats.
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey announced her candidacy for the position of Secretary-General earlier this year. She subsequently toured Commonwealth member states worldwide, outlining her vision and priorities for the Commonwealth.
“I’ve put myself forward because I care about the Commonwealth and its diverse peoples, and I have the leadership skills, networks, and determination to get tough things done,” she stated.
President Akufo-Addo nominated Madam Ayorkor Botchwey for the role, following an understanding within the Commonwealth that the next Secretary-General would come from Africa. He commented, “I have strong confidence in Foreign Minister Botchwey to lead our aspiration for renewal and for building resilient and thriving economies through community cooperation, as emphasised at the 26th CHOGM in Kigali, Rwanda.”
Before her election, she was endorsed by the African Union and enjoyed considerable support across all regions of the Commonwealth.
An accomplished lawyer, diplomat, politician, and communications professional, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey brings extensive experience in international relations, diplomacy, and public service. She is also a member of Ghana’s National Security Council.
During her seven-year tenure as Foreign Minister, she guided Ghana’s historic two-year term on the United Nations Security Council, concluding in December 2023. She also chaired the ECOWAS Council of Ministers from 2020 to 2022.
Previously, she served as Deputy Foreign Minister from 2006 to 2009 and held Deputy Minister roles in Trade and Industry and Communications. As a four-term legislator from 2004 through 2020, she was active on several parliamentary select committees, including Foreign Affairs, Appointments, Defence and Interior, Communications, and Gender and Children. She was also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament from 2013 to 2017 and served as Vice-Chair on the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) and African Peer Review Mechanism Committees.
The Commonwealth, led by King Charles III, is an intergovernmental association that promotes democratic governance, trade, education, climate advocacy, and financial transparency among its member states.
• The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal sovereign states. Its combined population is 2.7 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under.
• The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-three of our members are small states, many of which are island nations.
• The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality.
• Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations.
