King Charles III, as Head of the Commonwealth, formally welcomed Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey at Windsor Castle, marking the start of her tenure as the new Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Madam Botchwey, who succeeds Baroness Patricia Scotland, becomes the 7th individual to hold the esteemed position, making history as the first Ghanaian and the second African to do so. Her appointment was confirmed by consensus during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, in 2024.
The former Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration took office on April 1, addressing the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London. In her speech, Botchwey highlighted the vital role the Commonwealth plays in addressing global economic and political challenges.
“The world we live in today is unlike any we have seen before,” she stated, pointing to the economic downturns, rising defense costs, and weakening multilateralism as key issues impacting employment, poverty, and social protection worldwide.
Madam Botchwey underscored that the Commonwealth’s core values—democracy, good governance, peace, human rights, and equal opportunity—are crucial to overcoming these pressing issues.
As part of her strategic vision for the Commonwealth, she outlined three key priorities: empowering women and youth through skill-building and opportunities, revitalizing trade and investment for inclusive growth, and strengthening climate action to protect vulnerable member states.
Source:TheDotNews