Outgoing Secretary-General the Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland KC (right), congratulated her successor, the Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, currently Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, following her selection by Heads of Government.
In case you missed it
On the final day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, leaders met at the Closing Executive Session. The meeting reviewed progress on key mandates from CHOGM 2022 and set a shared course for the future of the Commonwealth. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to tackling global economic, environmental and security challenges, while exploring ways to enhance resilience, sustainable trade and inclusive growth and emphasising the empowerment of youth and women. Their commitments are set out in the key documents listed below.
Heads of Government announced the selection of the Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, currently Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, as the incoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. Read Ms Botchwey's statement to the media.
It was also announced that Antigua and Barbuda will host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The Commonwealth family will gather there again in 2026.
Publications
- Leaders' Statement and Samoa Communiqué
- Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration
- Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media
Stories
- Survivor's voices for a cancer-free Commonwealth (Guardian, Nigeria)
- A Paralympian levels the playing field for an all-inclusive Commonwealth (International Platform on Sport and Development)
Statement
Press releases
- Children take centre stage at CHOGM in historic first
- Commonwealth nations adopt pivotal ocean declaration in Samoa
- Incoming Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Announced
- CHOGM 2024: Samoa Communiqué, Leaders' Statement and Declarations on 'One Resilient Common Future'
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