Published on 01/11/2024
The Ghanaian foreign affairs minister, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has been elected as the seventh Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
Her selection was confirmed during the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa.
She will be taking over from Baroness Patricia Scotland, whose second and final term ends by the end of 2024.
Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, announced her candidacy for Commonwealth Secretary-General earlier this year and as part of her campaign, traveled to various Commonwealth member states to share her vision and priorities for the organization.
She enjoyed massive support across all regions of the commonwealth and was endorsed by the African Union.
Outgoing Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland expressed confidence in Ayorkor Botchwey’s abilities, stating, “It is my honour to pass the baton to my dear sister, the Hon. Shirley @AyorkorBotchwey, who will succeed me as the next Commonwealth Secretary-General”.
For the first time in 20 years after Nigeria’s Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Africa got the opportunity to elect the leadership of the Commonwealth and three African candidates competed for the job: Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; Lesotho’s former Trade and Industry Minister Joshua Phoho Setipa; and Gambia’s Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara.
Ayorkor Botchwey has served as Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister since January 10, 2017, leading the Council of Ministers of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for two successive terms since July 2020.
She also has extensive diplomatic experience, having served as Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister from 2006-2007 and 2008-2009.
