King Charles appoints Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey as Commonwealth Secretary-General to bolster leadership.
As King Charles and Queen Camilla returned to the UK following a significant Commonwealth summit in Samoa, the 56-nation group announced the appointment of Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey as the new Secretary-General. Botchwey, Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, succeeds Britain's Patricia Scotland, who had held the position since 2016.
The appointment was confirmed on the final day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), where Charles and Camilla were in attendance. The summit in Samoa, which gathered representatives from nations with deep-rooted historical ties to Britain's former empire, brought issues such as slavery and climate change to the forefront.
Botchwey's selection is seen as a significant move, given her advocacy for reparations for transatlantic slavery and colonialism. Her appointment reflects the Commonwealth's growing focus on addressing historical injustices while navigating modern challenges.
During their visit, King Charles acknowledged the "painful" history associated with the Commonwealth, amidst ongoing calls for reparations from former colonial powers. The royal couple concluded their time in Samoa with a farewell ceremony in the rain-soaked village of Siumu, following a six-day tour of Australia, where large crowds greeted them at the Sydney Opera House.
