Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU- At the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Apia, Samoa, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, was selected as the next Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
Botchwey defeated her opponents, Joshua Setipa from Lesotho and Dr Mamadou Tangara from Gambia.
The Commonwealth’s Secretary-General serves as the chief administrative officer of the Commonwealth of Nations, overseeing its activities and ensuring the implementation of decisions made by the 56 Member States. This role involves promoting democracy, development, and cooperation among member countries, while also representing the Commonwealth on international platforms and fostering dialogue on global issues, as outlined in the Commonwealth’s Charter and various official documents.
She fills the shoes of Baroness Patricia Scotland whose tour of duty has come to an end following two terms in office since 2016. She is the second African and also the second person from West Africa to occupy this prestigious position.
Setipa took to X, formerly Twitter to wish Botchwey success in her new role.
Despite backing from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other countries, Setipa lost to the Ghanaian. Reflecting on Lesotho’s campaign the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Hon Lejone Mpotjoane highlighted that the country’s diplomatic influence had strengthened, as evidenced by the international respect shown during the election.
He said Lesotho’s outreach efforts fostered valuable relationships with various nations, enhancing the country’s standing on the global stage. The Minister stated that notwithstanding Setipa’s strong credentials, the Commonwealth Members ultimately favoured Botchwey saying Ghana had long started the campaign.
Botchwey’s leadership vision includes promoting democracy, advancing trade and investment, and addressing climate change’s impact on small states and island nations, aligning with the Commonwealth’s 2024 CHOGM theme of resilience and unity.
She aims to transform the organization to address the needs of about 2, 6 billion citizens, and her tenure is expected to bring fresh perspectives to its initiatives across Africa and beyond.
Setipa would have made history as the first Mosotho to hold this influential role within the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as being the second African to do so, following the Nigerian Emeka Anyaoku, who served from 1990 to 2000.
The Commonwealth is a global organisation comprising 56 sovereign nations across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific. These member states collaborate towards shared objectives, including the promotion of democracy, peace, and prosperity.
“We need to empower women and young people. We must invest in education, skills development and innovation to unlock their potential, drive economic growth and give them a brighter future.”