Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, concluded a three-day meeting with Pacific Island leaders in Tonga, addressing a plenary session at the 53rd Pacific Islands Leaders Forum.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister and Commonwealth Secretary-General candidate, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, concluded a three-day meeting with Pacific Island leaders in Tonga, addressing a plenary session at the 53rd Pacific Islands Leaders Forum.
The event coincided with a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, which struck the island during UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez’s address on natural disasters.Ms. Botchwey shared her vision for a reformed Commonwealth, focusing on climate change, education, trade, and democracy.
She emphasised the urgent need for the Commonwealth to address climate change-related issues, particularly affecting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal countries.
During her bilateral engagements, Ms. Botchwey stressed her commitment to advocating for SIDS, small and coastal states, and vulnerable Commonwealth members.
“If anyone needed reminding of the vulnerability and fragility of the Pacific Islands and indeed other small developing island and coastal states elsewhere on the planet, we got a shocking reminder today,” Ms. Botchwey said. “I’ll continue to be an advocate of SIDS, and Small and Coastal States, and indeed all vulnerable members of our Commonwealth.”
She was accompanied by Dr. Mohamed ibn Chambas, former UN under-Secretary-General and founder Secretary-General of the African Caribbean Pacific Organization (ACP).Ms. Botchwey met with Tonga’s Crown Prince, HRH Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, Prime Minister Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, and other Pacific leaders, including Prime Ministers Siame Naomi Mata’afa of Samoa, Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji.
Others include James Marape of Papua New Guinea, Feleti Teo of Tuvalu, Charlot Salwai of Vanuatu, and Jeremiah Manele of Solomon Islands. She also held talks with New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Nauru’s Foreign Minister Lionel Angimea.
President Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October, where a new Secretary-General will be chosen to replace Baroness Patricia Scotland.