Commonwealth Secretary-General
Profile
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is a Ghanaian diplomat and politician serving as the 7th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth since April 2025, becoming the first woman from Africa to hold the position. Previously, she served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration from 2017 to 2024, where she led significant foreign policy reforms and chaired the ECOWAS Council of Ministers. A qualified barrister and solicitor, she also served as a Member of Parliament for the Weija and Anyaa-Sowutuom constituencies for four consecutive terms between 2005 and 2021. Her career includes extensive experience in international relations, governance, and public service, with a focus on strengthening diplomatic ties and regional institutional reform.
