The Ghanaian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has been elected as the seventh Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
Her appointment was announced during the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Apia, Samoa. She will succeed Baroness Patricia Scotland, whose second and final term concludes at the end of 2024.
Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey declared her intention to run for Commonwealth Secretary-General earlier this year and, as part of her campaign efforts, visited several Commonwealth member countries to share her vision and goals for the organisation. She received substantial backing from all parts of the Commonwealth and secured endorsement from 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”.
After two decades, following Nigeria’s Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Africa had the chance to select the leadership of the Commonwealth. Three African candidates vying for the position were Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Joshua Phoho Setipa, former Trade and Industry Minister of Lesotho, and Mamadou Tangara, the Foreign Minister of Gambia.
Since January 10, 2017, Ayorkor Botchwey has held the position of Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, leading the Council of Ministers for the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for two consecutive terms since July 2020. She has a wealth of diplomatic experience, having served as Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister from 2006 to 2007 and from 2008 to 2009.