Ghana's Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has been elected secretary-general of the Commonwealth at the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Apia, Samoa.
The election took place amid significant anticipation, as Botchwey competed against two other strong African candidates: Lesotho's former trade minister Joshua Phoho Setipa and Gambia's Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara. "Today at #CHOGM2024, Commonwealth Heads of Government have selected the Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, currently the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, as the incoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth," the Commonwealth shared on X on Friday, October 25.
Today at #CHOGM2024, Commonwealth Heads of Government have selected the Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, currently the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, as the incoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
pic.twitter.com/hVUvTqlt1D- The Commonwealth (@commonwealthsec) October 25, 2024 Her election marks a new chapter in the Commonwealth's leadership as she takes over from Baroness Patricia Scotland, whose second term ends in late 2024.