Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, recently elected Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, has pledged her dedication to advancing the organization’s values and ensuring its relevance to citizens across the Commonwealth’s 56 member states.

Speaking to an enthusiastic audience at Accra’s Kotoka International Airport on Monday, October 28, she described her appointment as “both a profound honour and a humbling experience.”

Ms. Botchwey’s election, confirmed on Friday, October 25, took place at the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2024) in Apia, Samoa. This historic appointment makes her the first African woman and the second successive woman to lead the Commonwealth Secretariat, following Patricia Scotland, who will conclude her term in March 2025.

“On Saturday, when the heads of states at CHOGM elected me, I accepted my election with a deep sense of humility and honour,” Ms. Botchwey said. “I look forward to working my heart out to make the Commonwealth relevant to its people.”

Ms. Botchwey’s remarks emphasized her commitment to building on the work of Baroness Scotland and collaborating closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat staff and their partners. She vowed to strengthen the organization’s role in promoting democracy, peace, and economic progress across its diverse member nations.

The election came as CHOGM 2024 convened leaders from across the Commonwealth to address pressing global challenges, culminating in the appointment of Ms. Botchwey as Secretary-General. Her term will officially begin after Baroness Scotland’s term concludes in March next year.

Source:TheDotNews