Ghana’s overseas minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey would be the subsequent Commonwealth Secretary-General.
She was elected by Commonwealth Heads of Government on Saturday at their biennial retreat in Apia, capital of Samoa, the Pacific island nation.
“I stand earlier than you with a profound sense of gratitude and humility as I settle for the accountability of this place,” Ms. Botchwey stated in her ready acceptance remarks.
“I really feel deeply honoured to be elected because the seventh Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. She stated I’ll do all the pieces in my energy to be worthy of your confidence and belief.
Ms. Botchwey, 61, Ghana’s overseas minister for practically eight years, will exchange Baroness Patricia Scotland on April 1, 2025. Scotland, a British-Dominican, was first elected in 2016 and is finishing her two-term restrict.
“By electing me, the second successive lady to occupy the place of Secretary-General, the Heads of Government have continued the custom of the Commonwealth as a history-making group,” Ms. Botchwey stated.
She contested for the function with Gambian overseas minister Dr. Mamadou Tangara, and Lesotho diplomat, former Trade Minister and Commonwealth Secretariat staffer Joshua Setipa.
Based on the Commonwealth’s conference of regional rotation, Africa was due to supply a Secretary-General for the 56-member group headquartered in London.
“I see my election as affirmation that the Commonwealth is poised to rise to the event because the world commits to multilateral options for a greater tomorrow, stated Ms. Botchwey, a lawyer and former four-term member of Ghana’s parliament.
“Our job, because the Commonwealth, is to seek out methods to cooperate amongst our household of countries to efficiently reply to the aspirations of our folks and safeguard our planet for present and future generations.
“My imaginative and prescient is that the Commonwealth Secretariat, together with each member nation, will seize the second, with creativeness, innovation, creativity and boldness, positive within the conviction that we’re able to constructing a greater world, collectively.”
The Commonwealth, initially a grouping of impartial former British colonies, now contains members with out prior British ties, equivalent to Rwanda, Cameroon, Gabon and Togo.
Its inhabitants is 1.68 billion, and its mixed GDP is over $13 trillion, which is projected to succeed in practically $20 trillion in three years.
Ms. Botchwey campaigned on a platform of main the group to sort out local weather change, uphold democracy, improve intra-commonwealth commerce, pursue training for younger folks and girls, use expertise to create jobs and strengthen the secretariat.
She stated: “I pledge to work for a Commonwealth of the Peoples. I intend to work with all stakeholders in the direction of the craving for a Commonwealth that’s nearer to the folks and whose relevance is felt within the each day lives of individuals.
“To the peoples of the Commonwealth, I say that is your group. Let’s be part of fingers to facilitate the political will obligatory for transformation and resilience constructing. “
