Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has been appointed Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. Leaders of the 56-member Commonwealth, presided over by Britain’s King Charles, selected the Ghanaian diplomat on the closing day of their summit in Samoa, attended by both King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Representatives from former British colonies gathered for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which began on Monday in the Pacific island nation. Key issues, including the legacy of slavery and climate change, were central topics of discussion.
The Commonwealth announced Botchwey’s appointment on social media, noting her current role as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. She succeeds Britain’s Patricia Scotland, who has served in the role since 2016.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association highlighted Botchwey’s background as a lawyer, diplomat, and politician. Since 2017, she has led Ghana’s Foreign Ministry, previously serving as Deputy Minister for both Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry, as well as a four-term member of Ghana’s Parliament.
Botchwey is known for advocating reparations for transatlantic slavery and colonialism. In 2023, she led efforts within the UN Security Council to pass a resolution for UN support of Africa-led peace operations. Additionally, she collaborated on Ghana’s “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives.
