Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has been chosen as the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. The decision was announced at the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Apia, the capital of Samoa.

Botchwey, a lawyer and seasoned diplomat, emerged victorious over two other candidates from Africa: Lesotho’s Senator Joshua Setipa and Dr. Mamadou Tangara of The Gambia. Her appointment marks a significant milestone, as she prepares to succeed the outgoing Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland of the United Kingdom.

In a statement on social media platform X, Baroness Scotland expressed her congratulations: “It is my honour to pass the baton to my dear sister, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, as the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.”

Botchwey received strong backing ahead of the election, with endorsements from both Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama.

As Secretary-General, she will be tasked with leading the 56-member Commonwealth, focusing on shared values, trade, and development across diverse regions.

Source:TheDotNews