Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Patricia Scotland, Baroness Scotland of the United Kingdom, as the next Commonwealth Secretary-General. International relations experts have attributed her strong candidacy to her vast experience, vision, and unwavering dedication to global service.
The election will be held at the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), taking place in Apia, Samoa, from October 21–26, 2024. Botchwey is up against two other African candidates: Senator Joshua Setipa of Lesotho and Dr. Mamadou Tangara of The Gambia.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey’s candidacy has garnered high-profile endorsements from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama. Her bid aligns with an understanding within the Commonwealth that the next Secretary-General should come from Africa. The theme for this year’s CHOGM is “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming Our Common Wealth”, focusing on strengthening democratic institutions, combating climate change, and upholding human rights and the rule of law.
President Akufo-Addo expressed his confidence in Botchwey’s leadership, stating, “I have strong confidence in Foreign Minister Botchwey to lead our aspirations for renewal and for building resilient, thriving economies through community cooperation and action.”
Botchwey’s record in diplomacy and international relations is impressive. As Ghana’s Foreign Minister, she has championed significant initiatives, including Ghana’s tenure at the UN Security Council (2021-2023), where she secured unanimous approval for Resolution 27/19, which ensured UN funding for Africa-led peace support operations for the first time. Shirley Ayorkor also played a crucial role in the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, working to prevent coups in the region and leading reforms of the ECOWAS Commission.
She has outlined six key priorities for repositioning the Commonwealth: promoting democracy and Commonwealth values, trade and investment, youth and education, addressing climate change, and managing resources for a more effective institution. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has also worked closely with the G7 on issues of international peace and security and contributed to Ghana’s successful “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives, strengthening ties with the African diaspora.
If elected, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey would become the second African and the second woman to hold the prestigious position of Commonwealth Secretary-General, following in the footsteps of Nigeria’s Chief Emeka Anyaoku.
Ghana is hopeful that her election would bring honor to the nation and enhance Africa’s standing in the international community. The Commonwealth is an association of 56 member states, most of which are former British territories. The Secretary-General serves a four-year term, renewable for a second term.
SOURCE: https://dew360.net
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