Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, leaders announced the selection of Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, currently Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana, as the incoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey was competing with Lesotho’s Joshua Setipa, who was recently appointed as the Senior Director of Strategy, Portfolio, Partnerships, and Digital Division for the Commonwealth Secretariat. His candidacy was strongly endorsed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Mr. Setipa began his career as a protocol officer in the Lesotho Foreign Service. While working as a Lesotho diplomat at the World Trade Organization in 1998, he contributed to drafting the initial proposal that helped establish the group of countries now known as the Small Vulnerable Economies (SVEs). He also served as the Minister of Trade and Industry and, most recently, as the Managing Director of the UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries.
Also running for the Secretary-General position was Dr. Mamadou Tangara , a Gambian diplomat and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position he first held in 2010 and again in 2012. He is also a former Gambian Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Dr. Tangara has previously served as Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, as well as Minister for Fisheries, Water Resources, and National Assembly Matters. He held the role of Coordinator for the National Authorizing Office Support Unit for European Union-funded programs and projects in The Gambia, and he also served as the focal point for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Science Sector.
He claims to be the only candidate for this position who is recognized as one of Africa’s longest-serving Foreign Ministers, with not only extensive high-level diplomatic experience but also political and developmental achievements.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General is a person of high standing who acts in service of
Commonwealth countries collectively. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of
independent and equal sovereign states. Its members are bound together by respect for all states and peoples; by shared values and principles; and by concern for the vulnerable.
By virtue of their appointment by Heads of Government, the Secretary-General is empowered to represent the Commonwealth publicly.
The Secretary-General is the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth and represents the Commonwealth countries collectively in discharging the mandates entrusted by Heads and is independent from any government or authority external to the organisation.
The Secretary-General manages the Secretariat in accordance with the strategic guidance
and direction set by Heads or their duly appointed representatives. This includes attending the meetings of Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers; other Ministerial meetings; the Commonwealth Board of Governors at which all member governments are represented, usually at the level of High Commissioner; the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors; and other
high-level meetings.
The responsibilities and contributions of the Secretary-General span international affairs and use of Good Offices (conflict prevention and resolution), economic affairs, Small States and
sustainable development. The Secretary General coordinates the Commonwealth Heads of Government and Ministerial Meetings and collaborates with other Commonwealth Organisations including the two other intergovernmental institutions – the Commonwealth of Learning and the
Commonwealth Foundation.
In order to execute the role and responsibilities of the position, the Secretary-General is expected to undertake substantial overseas travel and to make good use of technology to engage with Commonwealth members.
The Chair-in-Office, that is to say the host of the most recent CHOGM meeting, works and
consults closely with the Secretary-General in support of their Good Offices role, in efforts
to promote and advocate the collective interests of the Commonwealth in other regional and
international fora, and in encouraging the delivery of outcomes in fulfilment of CHOGM mandates and commitments.
As the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth, the Secretary-General is responsible for the staff of the Secretariat including international civil servants at the Commonwealth Secretariat headquarters in London and at the Commonwealth Small States Offices in New York and Geneva.
The Secretary-General is supported by at least one, and not more than three, Deputy Secretaries- General. The Secretariat delivers its core programmes of work in four main areas: (i) policy development; (ii) advisory services: (iii) technical assistance; and (iv) advocacy and consensus building. The Board of Governors oversees the work of the Secretariat, and the Secretary-General is accountable to the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee for the management and organisation of the Secretariat, including the use of member Governments’ contributions and pledges and the stewardship of its assets.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Appointment Nomination Process
Member Governments are invited to present candidates in a formal notification to the other
Member Governments via the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Commonwealth leaders appoint a Secretary-General for a four-year term, renewable once subject to reappointment by Commonwealth Heads as set out in the Agreed Memorandum on the Establishment and Functions of the Commonwealth Secretariat as revised in 2022.
The role is based at the Headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House in London. The working language of the Commonwealth is English.
