Three African candidates, including Ghana's Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, are vying for the Commonwealth Secretary-General role in October 2024, marking a historic shift as all contenders for the position are from the Africa Region.

Madam Shirley Botchwey faces stiff competition from Dr Mamadou Tangara of The Gambia and Mr Joshua Setipa of Lesotho in an election, to be determined by Heads of Government promises to be a closely contested race.

The next Secretary-General is expected to play a crucial role in defining the Commonwealth's future direction and relevance to ensure the organization remains faithful to its core values and continues to drive meaningful progress on issues that resonate with Africans and the broader Commonwealth membership.

On September 11, 2024, the three contenders will gather at London's Chatham House for a debate, jointly hosted by the Commonwealth Foundation, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and Royal Institute of International Affairs.
This event offers a stage for Mamadou, Shirley, and Joshua to showcase their vision for the Commonwealth's future. The debate precedes the October 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, where the next Secretary-General will be chosen.

The Commonwealth is inviting citizens from its member countries to submit questions for the upcoming Secretary-General debate, because of the direct interest the people of the Commonwealth have in the outcome.

The selected questions will be posed by the debate moderator, renowned broadcast journalist Zainab Bedawi, allowing citizens to have a direct voice in the discussion to increase citizen engagement and ensure that the concerns and interests of the Commonwealth's people are represented in the debate.

Brief profile of candidates

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is a multifaceted professional with a background in law, diplomacy, and politics. She has served as Ghana's Foreign Minister since 2017, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous roles, including Deputy Foreign Minister, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, and Member of the Ghanaian Parliament.

Ms Botchwey had a 16-year career as a Parliamentarian, serving four consecutive terms from 2005. She represented the constituency for eight years until the constituency was re-demarcated into three. Before entering politics, Ms Botchwey had a career as a marketing and communications consultant. However, driven by a desire to serve and make a difference in her community, she transitioned into politics.

Dr Mamadou Tangara

Dr. Mamadou Tangara is a trained journalist, and diplomat and serves as the Foreign Minister of The Gambia. His experience includes serving as The Gambia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2013-2016 and 2017-2018). Before his diplomatic career, he worked as an editor and French columnist for The Point Newspaper.

Dr Mamadou Tangara has held various esteemed positions beyond his diplomatic career. He has served as Chairman of the University of The Gambia Governing Council, President of Alliance Franco-Gambienne and Honorary Ambassador of the Brabant Wallon, Region (Belgium). He is also a member of the Diplomatic Foundation of the Kingdom of Morocco, and a Board of Trustees at the Qatari Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre (ROLACC) in Doha.

Senator Joshua Septiba

Senator Joshua Setipa is the Senior Director of Strategy, Portfolio Partnership, and Digital Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat. His candidacy has garnered significant regional support, with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) endorsing him for the position.

With his expertise in strategic leadership and digital transformation, Senator Setipa aims to change the Commonwealth's digital landscape and drive forward its strategic initiatives.