Shirley Botchwey assumed office as the 7th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth on April 1, 2025, becoming the first African woman to hold the position. With 20 years of leadership experience in diplomacy, international relations, governance, and public service, she previously served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration from 2017 to 2024 and was a member of Ghana’s National Security Council.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, nominated by Commonwealth leaders, serves a maximum of two four-year terms and is responsible for upholding Commonwealth values, representing the organization, and managing the Commonwealth Secretariat.
