Shirley Botchwey in India: Why the Commonwealth Secretary’s Visit Matters

New Delhi: Commonwealth Secretary-General Elect Shirley Botchwey is in India’s capital from March 20-21.

Welcoming her to India, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared that Botchwey will meet several dignitaries and discuss matters related to the Commonwealth.

“A warm welcome to Commonwealth Secretary-General Elect Ms. Shirley Botchwey (@AyorkorBotchwey) to India. During her visit, she will meet several dignitaries and discuss matters related to the Commonwealth,” Jaiswal posted.

Why Is Her India Visit Important?

During her visit, Botchwey will interact with key stakeholders, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar . Her meeting with Jaishankar aims to strengthen cooperation within the Commonwealth, where India is a key member.

She is also scheduled to hold discussions on various Commonwealth-related issues.

This visit is particularly crucial as she prepares to assume office as the 7th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth on April 1.

Who Is Commonwealth Secretary-General Elect Shirley Botchwey?

Shirley Botchwey is the former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana.

During her tenure, she achieved significant diplomatic and administrative milestones, including establishing a Foreign Service Institute (FSI) to enhance the training and capacity of Ghanaian diplomats. She also introduced extensive digitalization to improve consular and passport services, both domestically and in overseas missions.

Botchwey is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London, a law degree from the Ghana School of Law, an Executive MBA from the University of Ghana Business School, Legon, and an MA in Public Communications & Public Relations from the University of Westminster, London.

In December 2023, Botchwey led the unanimous passage of UN Resolution 2719 during Ghana’s two-year non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council. This historic resolution now enables the UN to fund African Union-led Peace Support Operations.

From 2020 to 2022, she also served two consecutive terms as Chair of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

During her leadership, she played a critical role in negotiating democratic transitions in the region. The Council, under her guidance, advised ECOWAS Heads of State on key political and economic matters.