The Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators welcomes Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey as the 7th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
- CATA Admin
- Apr 4
- 1 min read
Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, former Ghanaian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, assumed office as the 7th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth on 1 April 2025. She pledges to advance Commonwealth values in a divided world. She said in her speech, “The value of our Commonwealth stands in bold relief, in a time like this. For over 75 years, the Commonwealth has been a unique and powerful force for good. Now we must seize the moment to realise the transformation our societies seek.”
Our new leader encouraged us to continue our work, undaunted by the challenging context.
More focussed delivery
However, she says we should also reimagine our work and how we support our member countries.
She outlined five areas of focus for the organisation:
1. Democracy and good governance
2. Trade and investment for equitable development
3. Climate action and environmental resilience
4. Youth, skills and innovation
5. A strong Secretariat for a stronger Commonwealth
Reflecting on her own historic journey, she said:
“It is a great honour to be the first African woman to serve as Secretary-General. No matter where in the Commonwealth you come from, this path is open to you.”
