29 Nov Commonwealth SG-elect grateful to President Kufuor, Ga Mantse & Otumfuo
Ghana’s Foreign Minister & Commonwealth Secretary-General-elect, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey,
has paid courtesy calls on some key personalities to express gratitude for their towards her election in Samoa last month as head of the 56-nation organization.
Hon. Botchwey visited former President John Kufuor at his residence at Aburi.
She expressed appreciation for his wise counsel and unwavering encouragement towards her candidature.
“I came here to seek your blessing when I started this journey, and it’s befitting that I return to thank you and seek your counsel again for the journey ahead,” Ms. Botchwey said.
Ms. Botchwey, formerly MP for Anyaa-Sowutuom, then the country’s largest constituency, was appointed Deputy Minister of Information by President Kufuor in 2005. He subsequently appointed her deputy Trade Minister, and later Deputy Foreign Minister. She served 16 years as an MP.
“I remember her very well in her early years as a politician. She was quiet and calm, but very strong; and we’re all very proud of her achievement,” said the 86-year old Mr. Kufuor who was President of Ghana from Jan 2001 to January 2009.
He reaffirmed his confidence in Hon. Botchwey’s ability to lead the Commonwealth toward unity and shared progress.
Hon. Botchwey also called on the Ga Mantse, HRM King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, in appreciation of his steadfast support towards her campaign.
She had similarly paid a courtesy call on the Ga traditional leader prior at the start of her bid.
She was also in Kumasi to greet the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu who had also been a keen supporter and counselor of her campaign to lead the London-based Commonwealth of nearly 2.7 billion people.
Hon. Botchwey’s engagements with these leaders reflect the unity of purpose and shared dedication to Ghana’s global leadership aspirations.
Earlier this month, Hon. Botchwey received the Order of the Companion of the Volta from President Akufo-Addo in recognition of her achievement.
Hon. Botchwey takes over as Secretary-General from Baroness Patricia Scotland, a British-Dominican, on April 1, 2025.