On April 1, 2025, a historic chapter was written for the Commonwealth. Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, former Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, assumed office as the 7th Secretary-General of the organizationSecretary-General of the Commonwealth. She becomes the first African woman to lead this institution, which unites 56 nations and represents over a third of the world’s population. The office of the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth is based in London.
The decision to appoint Shirley Botchwey as the head of the Commonwealth was made during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Apia, Samoa, on October 25, 2024. She succeeds Patricia Scotland, who held the position for nine years.
With her diplomatic expertise and sharp vision of international issues, Shirley Botchwey will be responsible for representing the Commonwealth publicly, managing its Secretariat, and addressing critical challenges such as climate change, economic inequalities, and political stability within member states.
Shirley Botchwey’s mandate begins amid global tensions and a reconfiguration of international alliances. She has committed to promoting the Commonwealth’s core values, including democracy, human rights, and sustainable development.
An Exemplary Career in Diplomacy
With over two decades of experience in diplomacy and governance, Shirley Botchwey has left a significant mark on the international stage. From 2017 to 2024, as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, she modernized consular services through digitization and strengthened the country’s diplomatic influence. At the helm of the ministry, she also chaired the Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2020 to 2022, leading decisive responses to security crises, democratic transitions, and regional reforms.
Her pivotal role in the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2667 in 2022, which allowed for the funding of African Union-led peacekeeping operations, remains a historic achievement. This initiative was one of the major accomplishments of her tenure while Ghana held a non-permanent seat on the Security Council.
Shirley Botchwey also played a key role in the adoption of UN Resolution 2634, aimed at combating piracy and enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. She was instrumental in shaping Ghana’s flagship initiatives, such as the “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return,” which strengthened cultural and economic ties with the global African diaspora.
At the start of her career, she held crucial roles, including as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Information, and Trade and Industry under President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration (2001-2009). Elected as a Member of Parliament for Weija and later Anyaa-Sowutuom from 2005 to 2021, she represented the largest electoral base in the Ghanaian Parliament for four consecutive terms.
Before entering politics, Shirley Botchwey successfully led a marketing and communications company and distinguished herself as a consultant in the tourism sector, honing her management and strategic skills on the international stage.
A Distinguished Academic Journey
Shirley Botchwey embodies professional excellence in the fields of law and governance. As a qualified lawyer and solicitor at the Supreme Court of Ghana, her academic and professional background reflects an unwavering commitment to excellence and leadership.
She holds an Executive MBA in Project Management from the University of Ghana Business School, Legon, and furthered her legal studies in the UK, where she earned a postgraduate diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) from The University of Law and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London.
Her communication and marketing qualifications are equally impressive. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Communication and Public Relations (MA) from the University of Westminster, as well as a certificate in Marketing Management from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Her diploma in Public Relations and Advertising, awarded by the Ghana Institute of Journalism, further complements this expertise.
In addition, Shirley Botchwey developed administrative management skills, obtaining a diploma in Secretarial and Managerial Studies from Pitman Central College in the UK, and a qualification in law from the Ghana School of Law in Accra.
Her commitment to excellence is also reflected in her leadership training, having completed high-level programs at the Kennedy School of Harvard University and the Institute of Paralegal Training and Leadership Studies.
