By Ghana Eye Report
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey assumed office as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations on April 1, 2025.
The former Ghanaian minister emphasized how honoured she was to be the first African woman to serve as Commonwealth Secretary-General.
“It is a great honour to be the first African woman to serve as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. As a daughter of Ghana, the first African country to join the Commonwealth, I feel a deep personal connection to our family of nations,” said the former Ghanaian minister.
She also pledged to advance the values of the Commonwealth Charter amid growing global tensions and shifting alliances.
“The world we woke up to today is unlike any we have seen in our lifetimes. The consequences of lower economic growth, increased defence expenditures, and a frayed multilateralism will affect our pockets directly, increase unemployment and poverty, reduce social protection and weaken our resilience to shocks,” the Commonwealth Secretary-General.
“The value of our Commonwealth stands in bold relief, in a time like this. For over 75 years, the Commonwealth has been a unique and powerful force for good. Now we must seize the moment to realise the transformation our societies seek,” she added.
The Secretary-General highlighted the power of Commonwealth unity in uncertain times. “The challenges we face are real and serious,” she said, “but together, we are more than equal to them. Sustained by the values that bind us – democracy, good governance, peace, human rights, and equal opportunity – we will build a future in which dignity, opportunity, and prosperity are within reach for all.”
The Secretary-General outlined three strategic priorities for her leadership, calling them the foundation for a “Commonwealth built on all talents”.
First, she pledged to equip women and young people with the skills, tools and opportunities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Second, the Secretary-General vowed to revitalise trade, investment and connectivity across the Commonwealth, describing it as a pathway to industrial development, productivity and inclusive growth. No country, she stressed, should be left behind, regardless of its size or income level.
Third, calling climate change “the greatest challenge of our time,” she pledged to mobilise stronger action and advocate for reforms of the international financial system to help small and other vulnerable Commonwealth states access the support they need.
The Secretary-General also committed to accelerating the Commonwealth’s modernisation by delivering faster and smarter partnerships to meet the needs of all its people.
Elected on October 26, 2024 at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa Botchwey becomes the first African woman and the second African to lead the association of 56 countries, which make up a third of the world’s population and more than a quarter of the United Nations membership.
Botchwey succeeds Patricia Scotland, whose nine-year term ended in March 2025. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
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