The Commonwealth has announced the appointment of Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, as its new Secretary-General during a contentious summit in Samoa. Stephen Twigg, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, congratulated Botchwey on her selection and expressed eagerness to collaborate with her to promote parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, climate action, and sustainable development, all rooted in the values of the Commonwealth Charter.
Botchwey was one of three candidates vying for the role, all of whom have supported calls for Britain to confront its colonial past and the legacy of slavery. Having served as foreign minister for the past seven years, Botchwey played a notable role during Ghana’s two-year tenure on the UN Security Council, which concludes in December 2023. She has been an advocate for drafting a free trade agreement among Commonwealth member states and has openly supported reparations, stating earlier this year that “financial reparations is good.”
The Secretary-General position, based in London, is traditionally rotated among the Commonwealth’s four geographical blocs: the Pacific, Asia, Europe, and Africa, with Africa now taking its turn. Botchwey expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support from the Commonwealth Heads of Government, acknowledging the work ahead. “Truly humbled by the overwhelming support of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in selecting me as the incoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth,” she posted on social media.
The Commonwealth, which consists of 56 member nations, promotes democratic governance, cooperation in trade and education, climate advocacy, and financial system transparency. Although the organization is headed by King Charles III, the Secretary-General is responsible for managing the London-based secretariat.
The Samoa summit was expected to address climate change, but discussions became mired in debates over reparations. Many nations, particularly from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, are calling for Britain and other European powers to acknowledge their colonial histories and engage in discussions on reparatory justice, which may include financial compensation. The Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Davis, emphasized the importance of addressing these historical wrongs, stating, “The time has come to have a real dialogue about how we address these historical wrongs. Reparatory justice is not an easy conversation, but it’s an important one.” He further noted that the effects of slavery have left deep generational wounds in affected communities.
Experts estimate that between 10 to 15 million slaves were forcibly taken from Africa to the Americas over four centuries, with the full human toll likely never to be known. The British royal family, which benefited from the slave trade, has faced increasing pressure to issue a formal apology. During the summit, King Charles acknowledged the painful legacy of slavery but refrained from making an apology, instead urging leaders to “reject the language of division.” He stressed the need to learn from the past and work toward rectifying ongoing inequalities.
In light of her new role, Botchwey will undoubtedly be at the forefront of these critical discussions, shaping the future of the Commonwealth while addressing the historical injustices that continue to resonate within its member states.
Sources
- https://www.cpahq.org/news/2024_10-new-csg/
- https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/10/commonwealth-announces-ghana-foreign-minister-as-new-secretary-general/amp/
