She was appointed by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their biennial meeting in Apia, Samoa in 2024. She assumed office on 1 April 2025, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in diplomacy, international relations, governance, and public service to the position.
Career and leadership
Prior to her appointment, she served as Ghanaâs Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration from January 2017 to January 2024 and was a member of Ghanaâs National Security Council. Her tenure was marked by significant reforms in foreign policy delivery, which strengthened Ghanaâs diplomatic footprint and introduced transformative improvements in consular services through digitisation and innovation.
During her time as Foreign Minister, she chaired the Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2020 to 2022, leading strategic responses to security crises, democratic transitions and regional institutional reform. She played a key role in the passage of landmark UN Security Council Resolution 2667 in 2022, enabling the financing of African Union-led peace operations â a historic achievement during Ghanaâs tenure as a non-permanent member of the Council.
She also helped secure UN Resolution 2634 addressing piracy and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and was instrumental in shaping Ghanaâs high-profile âYear of Returnâ and âBeyond the Returnâ initiatives, strengthening cultural and economic ties with the global African diaspora.
Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Information, and Trade and Industry, during President John Agyekum Kufuorâs administration (2001â2009). From 2005 to 2021, she was a Member of Parliament for the Weija and later Anyaa-Sowutuom constituencies, representing the largest population base in Ghanaâs legislature across four consecutive terms.
Prior to entering politics, Shirley Botchwey led a successful marketing and communications firm and served as a consultant in the tourism sector.
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Secretary-General Botchwey is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana and holds extensive academic and professional credentials, including:
- Executive MBA (Project Management), University of Ghana Business School, Legon
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC), The University of Law, UK
- MA in Public Communications and Public Relations, University of Westminster, UK
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of London, UK
- Certificate in Marketing Management, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)
- Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising, Ghana Institute of Journalism
- Diploma in Secretarial and Management Studies, Pitman Central College, UK
- Qualifying Certificate in Law (QCL), Ghana School of Law, Accra
She has also undertaken leadership training at Harvard Universityâs Kennedy School and the Institute of Paralegal Training and Leadership Studies. She is a Fellow of the African Leadership Initiative and the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and a member of the Ghana National Association of Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioners.
The role of the Commonwealth Secretary-General
The Commonwealth Secretary-General is responsible for:
- promoting and protecting the Commonwealthâs values
- representing the Commonwealth publicly
- the management of the °źÂț”ș.
Former Commonwealth Secretaries-General
The Secretary-General is nominated by Commonwealth leaders and can serve a maximum of two terms of four years each.
Former Secretaries-General are:
- Patricia Scotland of Dominica (2016-2025)
- Kamalesh Sharma of India (2008-2016)
- Don McKinnon of New Zealand (2000-2008)
- Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria (1990-2000)
- Sir Shridath âSonnyâ Ramphal of Guyana (1975-1990)
- Arnold Smith of Canada (1965-1975)
