Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is Commonwealth Secretary General-Elect

Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchey, has been duly elected as Secretary Genersl for Commonweath. The election for the new Secretary-General of the 56-member organization took place during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa. This appointment will replace Baroness Patricia Scotland, a dual Dominican-British citizen, whose second and final term concludes at the end of 2024.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has been elected Secretary-General of the Commonwealth during the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Apia, Samoa.

At 61, the experienced diplomat won against two other African candidates: former Lesotho trade minister Joshua Phoho Setipa and Gambia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mamadou Tangara.

“Today at #CHOGM2024, Commonwealth Heads of Government have chosen the Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, as the incoming Secretary-General,” the Commonwealth announced on X on Friday, October 25.

Botchwey succeeds Baroness Patricia Scotland, who is completing her second and final term at the end of 2024.

Career highlights

Botchwey has built a distinguished career over nearly 20 years in diplomacy and governance, having served as Ghana’s Foreign Minister since 2017. Known for her innovative policies, she has modernized Ghana’s diplomatic services, notably establishing the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) to improve the skills and conditions of Ghanaian diplomats.

She has also spearheaded the digital transformation of consular and passport services, streamlining processes for Ghanaians both domestically and internationally.

Her international reputation grew as she advanced Ghana’s foreign policy, particularly during the country’s recent two-year stint on the United Nations Security Council.

Key achievements

A significant achievement came in December 2023 when she championed UN Resolution 2719, securing unanimous support for funding African Union-led peace operations—an important step for African autonomy in peacekeeping.

Botchwey has actively promoted Ghana’s cultural connections globally, highlighted by the 2019 “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” campaigns, which marked 400 years since the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade. These initiatives solidified Ghana’s role as a cultural hub for the African diaspora and strengthened ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

She also chaired the Council of Ministers for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2020 to 2022, skillfully addressing diplomatic challenges to enhance regional stability amid political and security issues in the Sahel.

Her academic credentials include a law degree from the Ghana School of Law, an Executive MBA from the University of Ghana Business School, and an MA in public communications from the University of Westminster. As a barrister and solicitor of Ghana’s Supreme Court, she previously led a marketing and communications consultancy, honing her diplomatic and public relations skills.

In a recent debate, Botchwey articulated her vision: “The Commonwealth is meaningful if it impacts lives and safeguards our planet.” She emphasized urgent issues facing the Commonwealth, including climate change, threats to democracy, and disinformation, as critical priorities for member states pursuing sustainable development.

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who is a lawyer, a diplomat and a politician, was in the race with two other African candidates, namely Senator Joshua Setipa of Lesotho and Dr. Mamadou Tangara of the Gambia.

The meeting will be the first full Commonwealth summit held since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and the first to be presided over by King Charles III as Head of the Commonwealth.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey officially expressed her interest in the position of Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.