Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey meets King Charles after starting new Commonwealth role

**Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey Meets King Charles After Starting as Commonwealth Secretary-General**

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey recently met King Charles. This meeting occurred at Windsor Castle in the UK on April 4, 2025.

Botchwey is the new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. She was elected on October 26, 2024, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Apia, Samoa. She succeeded Patricia Scotland in this role.

As Secretary-General, she will oversee 56 independent states with a total population of 2.7 billion people. Her main goal is to support member countries in building democratic and inclusive governments.

Botchwey has also recently become a lawyer. She aims to strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights among member states.

Climate change poses a significant challenge for her tenure. About 33 Commonwealth nations are threatened by rising sea levels.

After her appointment, Botchwey expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her by member states. Upon returning to Ghana on October 28, 2024, she received a hero's welcome at Kotoka International Airport.

Ghanaians celebrated her victory online with many congratulatory messages. Comments highlighted her experience as Foreign Minister and encouraged her to succeed in her new role.

In addition to her political achievements, Botchwey was called to the Ghana Bar in 2023. The Foreign Affairs Ministry congratulated her on becoming a lawyer alongside over a thousand others that year.