Biography

Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey became Secretary-General on 1 April 2025, having been appointed by Heads of Government at their meeting in October 2024. 
She is the first woman from Africa – second African overall – to lead the association of 56 nations. 
Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Commonwealth Secretary-General was born on 8 February 1963 in Accra, Ghana. 
Holds an LLB, a postgraduate qualification in legal practice, an MBA, and a master’s degree in public communication.
 Qualified as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana. 
Fellow of the African Leadership Initiative and the Aspen Global Leadership Network. 
Member of the Ghana National Association of Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioners. 
Served as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Information, and Trade and Industry (2001–2009). 
Elected as a Member of Parliament (2005–2021), representing two of Ghana’s largest constituencies. 
Served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (2017–2024), leading key reforms in foreign policy and consular services with a focus on digitisation.