King Charles III receives Shirley Botchwey as new Commonwealth Secretary-General

King Charles III welcomed Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey at Windsor Castle.

She is the new Commonwealth Secretary-General.

This visit marks the start of her tenure as the 7th Secretary-General. She succeeds Baroness Patricia Scotland. Botchwey is the first Ghanaian and second African in this role.

The former Minister for Foreign Affairs was elected during CHOGM in Apia, Samoa, in 2024.

On April 1, she spoke at the Commonwealth Secretariat's headquarters in London. She highlighted the Commonwealth's role in addressing global challenges.

“The world we live in today is unlike any we have seen before,” she said. She noted economic downturns and increased defense spending affect employment and social protection.

Botchwey stressed that democracy, good governance, peace, human rights, and equal opportunity are crucial values for these challenges.

She outlined her vision for the Commonwealth with three priorities: empowering women and youth with skills, revitalizing trade to promote growth, and strengthening climate action for vulnerable member states.