Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, is being tipped by international relations experts as the likely successor to the outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland. The election for this prestigious role will take place during the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, from October 21–26, 2024.
Botchwey, who is competing against Senator Joshua Setipa of Lesotho and Dr. Mamadou Tangara of Gambia, has received endorsements from both President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama. Her candidacy is part of an understanding within the Commonwealth that the next Secretary-General should come from Africa.
Botchwey has built a strong reputation in international diplomacy. She played a key role during Ghana’s tenure at the UN Security Council, advocating for UN funding for Africa-led peace operations, and was active in ECOWAS efforts to restore constitutional governance in West Africa. She is also known for her contributions to the “Year of Return” initiative, strengthening ties between the African diaspora and the continent.
Her platform emphasizes six main priorities: democracy, trade, investment, youth development, climate change, and enhancing Commonwealth institutions. If elected, she would be the second African and the second woman to hold the position of Commonwealth Secretary-General, following Nigeria’s Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Patricia Scotland, respectively.
