Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has been elected as the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

This was in a historic election at the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa. 

Ms. Botchwey, a seasoned lawyer, diplomat, and politician, was chosen over two other African contenders, Lesotho's Senator Joshua Setipa and The Gambia's Dr. Mamadou Tangara, marking a significant milestone for Ghana on the global diplomatic stage.

The election marks the end of Patricia Scotland's term as Secretary-General, as Baroness Scotland of the United Kingdom prepares to hand over leadership to Botchwey.

In a statement on X, Baroness Scotland praised Ms. Botchwey’s qualifications and commitment, writing, “It is my honour to pass the baton to my dear sister, the Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who will succeed me as the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.”

Ms. Botchwey's candidacy received significant support from her home country, with endorsements from both President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama, underscoring her bipartisan backing.