New Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey recognises Commonwealth as a force for good

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is the first African woman to be Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

This historic event took place in London, UK, on April 1, 2025.

In her inaugural speech, she emphasized her commitment to Commonwealth values. She spoke during a time of global uncertainty.

Botchwey succeeds Patricia Scotland and is the second African leader of the Commonwealth. This organization has 56 member countries and represents a large part of the world's population.

She acknowledged various global challenges like economic turmoil and geopolitical conflicts. She stressed the need for transformative action in response to these issues.

As a symbol of Ghana's diplomatic legacy, she highlighted the Commonwealth's positive impact over 75 years.

Commonwealth Heads of Government appointed her at their biennial meeting in Apia, Samoa, in 2024.

She officially took office on April 1, 2025. Botchwey brings over 20 years of experience in diplomacy and public service to this role.