King Charles III, in his role as Head of the Commonwealth, has officially received Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey at Windsor Castle, formally marking the beginning of her tenure as the new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

The meeting served as a ceremonial welcome for Madam Botchwey, who becomes the 7th person to lead the 56-nation organization.

She succeeds Baroness Patricia Scotland and makes history as the first Ghanaian and only the second African to assume this high-profile role.

Madam Botchwey, who previously served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, was elected by consensus during the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Apia, Samoa.

Delivering her inaugural address on April 1 at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London, the new Secretary-General underscored the vital role the Commonwealth plays in navigating global economic and political challenges.

She pledged to promote unity, shared prosperity, and deeper cooperation among member states during her tenure.