The newly elected Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, says that her vision is to promote trade, education, skills training development and innovation for the teeming numbers of young people across our the Commonwealth.
Addressing journalists on her return to Accra on Monday after her successful election as the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Ms Botchwey promised to make the Commonwealth relevant to its people.
Ms Botchwey, who has served Ghana as foreign minister for about eight years, said that she would build on the work which had been done by the amazing staff of the Secretariat and their partners, which had made it possible for the Commonwealth to open new chapters in the shared journey towards deepening democracy, peace, prosperity and economic progress.
“I will provide leadership to work with member states in collaboration with other multilateral institutions towards addressing climate change which presents a clear existential threat to our Commonwealth. I shall harness opportunities for transformation and enhance our global voice,” she said.
Earlier, President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who accompanied the foreign minister, told journalists that her election marked a ground-breaking achievement not only for Ghana but the whole of Africa as she becomes the first African woman and second African after Chief Emeka Anyaoku Emeka to hold that prestigious position.
The Ghanaian President said that the election of Ms Botchwey was an honour that required the support and prayers of all Ghanaians.
According to him, Ms Botchwey is the first African woman to lead in the history of the organisation, adding that it’s not going to be an easy task because of where we are in human history, with a lot of difficulties ahead.
“But I have absolutely no doubt that you have the qualities necessary to enable you to succeed as Secretary General of the Commonwealth,” local media reports quoted President Akufo-Addo as saying.
He stated that her qualities of competence, hard work, diligence, honesty, and of commitment that drew the massive global support for Ms Botchwey’s candidature for the prestigious office.
“She’s done a yeoman’s job for us as Foreign Secretary. Foreign Secretary, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, and several other important international assignments have been very well delivered by this… I still call her a young lady,” he said.
“Let’s all stand together behind her and push her to do a very good job for our country. She now flies the flag of Ghana on the global stage in a way which has not been done since our late, revered diplomat, Kofi Annan was Secretary General of the United Nations,” he added.
The delegation was received on arrival by senior government officials and other and representatives of the Ga Mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II made up of a retinue of divisional chiefs from Accra, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters and family members.
GIK/APA