The Commonwealth has appointed Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey as its new secretary-general. The announcement came at the conclusion of a contentious summit held in Samoa on Saturday.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 sovereign nations, primarily composed of former British colonies. Botchwey was one of three candidates vying for the role, all of whom have advocated for addressing the legacy of colonialism and slavery.
With seven years of experience as Ghana’s foreign minister, Botchwey notably led Ghana’s two-year tenure on the UN Security Council. Her tenure ended in December 2023, and she has supported a free trade agreement among Commonwealth members.
Earlier this year, she publicly expressed her stance on reparations, stating, “Financial reparations is good.” The role of Commonwealth Secretary-General is limited to two four-year terms, following the incumbent Dominican Baroness Patricia Scotland.
By convention, the secretary-general’s role rotates among the Commonwealth’s four geographical regions, with Africa currently in the rotation. Following her selection, Botchwey expressed her gratitude on social media, stating, “Truly humbled by the overwhelming support.”
The Commonwealth aims to promote democratic governance, trade cooperation, and climate advocacy. While King Charles III leads the organization, the secretary-general manages the London-based secretariat.
The summit initially intended to focus on climate change but became dominated by discussions on reparations. Many nations are urging the UK and other European powers to engage in a dialogue about reparatory justice related to slavery.
Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis emphasized the importance of this dialogue. “The time has come to have a real dialogue about how we address these historical wrongs,” he asserted.
Experts estimate that 10-15 million slaves were taken from Africa to the Americas over four centuries. Calls for the British royal family to apologize continue, but King Charles urged delegates to “reject the language of division.”