King Charles III, in his capacity as Head of the Commonwealth, officially received Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey at Windsor Castle.

This follows her appointment as the new Commonwealth Secretary-General.

The courtesy call marks the beginning of Madam Botchwey’s tenure as the 7th Secretary-General of the 56-nation Commonwealth, succeeding Baroness Patricia Scotland. She becomes the first Ghanaian and the second African to hold the prestigious position.

The former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration was elected by consensus during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, in 2024.

On April 1, during her address at the Commonwealth Secretariat's headquarters in London, the new Secretary-General emphasised the critical role the Commonwealth plays in tackling global economic and political challenges.

“The world we live in today is unlike any we have seen before,” she stated, highlighting the implications of economic downturns, increased defence expenditures, and weakened multilateralism on employment, poverty, and social protection.

She emphasised that the Commonwealth’s long-standing values—democracy, good governance, peace, human rights, and equal opportunity—remain vital in responding to these challenges.

Outlining her strategic vision for the Commonwealth, Madam Botchwey prioritised three key areas: empowering women and young people with essential skills and opportunities, revitalising trade and investment to drive inclusive growth, and strengthening climate action to support vulnerable member states.