Ghana’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, is poised to make history as she competes for the Commonwealth’s top position, Secretary-General.
The election will reach its climax during the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in Apia, Samoa, set to conclude tomorrow. If successful, Ms. Botchwey will become the second African to hold this office since Nigeria’s Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
Ms. Botchwey faces competition from two other African candidates, Mamadou Tangara of The Gambia and Joshua Setipa of Lesotho. The African continent represents over a third of the Commonwealth’s 56 member nations.
The new Secretary-General will succeed Patricia Scotland, who has served in the role since 2016.
Ms. Botchwey’s candidacy comes at a pivotal time for the Commonwealth, which unites diverse cultures and faces significant global challenges, including economic hardships, climate change, and rising threats to democracy and human rights. In her campaign, she underscores the Commonwealth’s unique capacity to foster international cooperation and support its members through shared values and collective strength.
Inspired by kente, Ghana’s iconic hand-woven fabric, Ms. Botchwey describes her candidacy as rooted in the unity and diversity that kente represents. Just as each strand of the fabric weaves together into a vibrant whole, she envisions the Commonwealth as a community bound by mutual support.
She has stated, “In the Commonwealth, industrialised and developing countries alike need one another. Each must reaffirm the other to enable the institution to work even better for all its peoples.”
Resilient Commonwealth At the core of Ms. Botchwey’s campaign is her vision for a resilient Commonwealth. She aims to address urgent issues, from economic inequality and youth unemployment to the climate crisis that disproportionately impacts small island and vulnerable nations. Her plan focuses on key areas such as trade, youth empowerment, education, innovation, and sustainable development.
In her strategy, trade and investment are pivotal. Ms. Botchwey believes the Commonwealth can leverage its collective strength to create economic opportunities that help alleviate poverty and build resilient economies. She envisions the Commonwealth as a gateway to market access, investment, and entrepreneurial support, particularly for young people and women often excluded from traditional economic systems.
Proven leadership With over two decades of experience in high-level leadership, Ms. Botchwey is well-versed in diplomacy, trade, defence, and security. Her notable tenure as Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers saw her champion bold reforms within the ECOWAS Commission, achieving significant cost savings redirected to support community initiatives.
Her leadership skills were further evident during Ghana’s term on the United Nations Security Council. In December 2023, she led the passage of a resolution that secured United Nations funding for African peace support operations, a major win for under-resourced African peacekeeping missions.
Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has voiced strong confidence in Ms. Botchwey’s chances, citing her role as Foreign Affairs Minister and support from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as strategic advantages. He also highlighted Ghana’s influential history within the Commonwealth, including its role in advocating for the establishment of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Dr. Antwi-Danso added that while Ms. Botchwey’s appointment would boost Ghana’s international standing, it might not directly benefit the country financially.
“The main benefit for Ghana would be the prestige and visibility of having a Ghanaian in such a high-profile international position. Beyond that, there might be limited specific advantages for the nation,” he said.
With strong endorsements and a platform centered on unity and resilience, Ms. Botchwey aims to lead the Commonwealth through today’s challenges and into a future of shared prosperity.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
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