King Charles III, in his capacity as Head of the Commonwealth, officially welcomed Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey at Windsor Castle, following her appointment as the new Commonwealth Secretary-General.
The courtesy call marked the beginning of Madam Botchwey’s tenure as the 7th Secretary-General of the 56-nation Commonwealth, succeeding Baroness Patricia Scotland.
She becomes the first Ghanaian and the second African to hold this prestigious position.
Madam Botchwey, who previously served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, was elected by consensus during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, in 2024.
On April 1, during her address at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London, the new Secretary-General highlighted the critical 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, underscoring the effects of economic downturns, increased defense expenditures, and weakened multilateralism on employment, poverty, and social protection.
She reiterated that the Commonwealth’s long-standing values—democracy, good governance, peace, human rights, and equal opportunity—remain crucial in addressing these challenges.
Outlining her strategic vision for the Commonwealth, Madam Botchwey emphasized three key areas: empowering women and young people with essential skills and opportunities, revitalizing trade and investment to foster inclusive growth, and strengthening climate action to support vulnerable member states.
