By Ashiadey Dotse
President Bola Tinubu congratulated Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, on being chosen as the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
Mrs. Botchwey was elected during a meeting of leaders from 56 Commonwealth countries in Apia, Samoa, making her the 7th person to hold the position. The 61-year-old, who has been Ghana’s foreign minister for seven years, will start her new role on April 1, 2025. She is the second African to ever hold this position, following Nigeria’s Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who served from 1990 to 2000.
In a statement on Saturday, Tinubu, through his Special Adviser, Bayo Onanuga, said Nigeria supported her for the role.
He expressed confidence in Mrs, Botchwey’s leadership experience and public service background, saying she is well-suited for the job and will bring new energy to the Commonwealth’s efforts to strengthen economic and political partnerships and raise its influence in global matters.