I’ll support Ayorkor Botchwey to become Commonwealth secretary-general, says Mahama

Former president John Mahama is backing Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey’s bid to contest as secretary-general of the Commonwealth.

The position is currently being held by Rt Hon Patricia Scotland from Dominica. She was picked at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta in 2015.

She is the second secretary-general from the Caribbean and the first woman to hold the post.

Botchwey has expressed interest in the position.

Delivering a public lecture at Chatham House in the UK on Friday (27 January) on the topic, “Africa’s strategic priorities and global role,” Mahama said: “I’m hearing it for the first time that our Foreign Affairs Minister is interested in the position of the Commonwealth secretary-general.”

“I have worked closely with Baroness Patricia Scotland, she’s chosen me to lead several election observation missions in Kenya, Sierra Leone, and other places,” Mahama said.

“I know her very well, she’s been quite a capable secretary-general. Incidentally, she comes from the Caribbean, the Dominica. And so if it’s Africa’s turn, why not, I mean we will have a Ghanaian secretary-general, female. It’s something I will support”.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries.

It is home to 2.5 billion people, and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. 32 of our members are small states, including many island nations.

Our member governments have agreed to shared goals like development, democracy and peace. Our values and principles are expressed in the Commonwealth Charter.

The Commonwealth’s roots go back to the British Empire. But today any country can join the modern Commonwealth. The last two countries to join the Commonwealth were Gabon and Togo in 2022.

Source: Asaaseradio.com