Ghana’s top diplomat named as new Commonwealth secretary-general

By Anadolu staff

Commonwealth member states on Saturday selected Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey as a new secretary-general of the 56-nation organization on the final day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Commonwealth on X said the member states selected Botchwey, who serves as Ghana’s Foreign Minister, as the incoming secretary-general.

"Truly humbled by the overwhelming support of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in selecting me as the incoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. The work indeed lies ahead!," Botchwey said on X following her selection.

Botchwey is preceded by Patricia Janet Scotland. Born in Dominica, Scotland is the second secretary-general from the Caribbean and the first woman to hold the post.

The two-day summit of the leaders and representatives of 56 Commonwealth nations was held on Friday and Saturday in Samoa Pacific nation.

The summit was chaired by King Charles III as the symbolic head of the organization.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as well as his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese also attended the summit.

Leaders of Commonwealth countries meet every two years. Since 1971, a total of 25 meetings have been held, with the most recent being in Rwanda in 2022.

Charles is the head of state in Australia, New Zealand, and 12 other Commonwealth nations outside the UK.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid