The newly-elected Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has assured to work hard in her new responsibility.Ayorkor Botchwey' was elected during the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2024), held in Apia, Samoa, on Friday, October 25."On Saturday, when heads of states at [27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting] CHOGM elected me, I accepted my election with a deep sense of humility and honour.
The election makes me the second successive woman but first woman from Africa to the Office of Secretary-General after Patricia Scotland, the current officeholder whose term will come to an end in March."I look forward to working my heart out to make the Commonwealth relevant to its people and to build on the work she has done with the amazing staff of the secretariat and their partners, which makes it possible for the Commonwealth to open new chapters in our shared journey towards deepening democracy, peace and economic progress," she said while addressing an enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Kotoka International Airport on Monday, October 28.President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also rallied support for her to succeed as the Commonwealth Secretary-General."She has done a 'yeoman's' job as foreign secretary, chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, and several other important international assignments have been very well delivered by this young lady."So, coming back here, I knew we would meet something like this and I am very happy that all of you have come out in your numbers and met her and congratulated her.
Let us all stand together behind her and push her to do a very good job for our country."She now flies the flag of Ghana on the global stage in a way which has not been done before since our late revered diplomat Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations," he said at a ceremony held to welcome her back from the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.The President urged Ghanaians to rally behind her, saying, "Let us all stand united behind her and support her in this role.
This is an opportunity for Ghana to impact the world stage significantly."