Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has expressed approval of Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey’s candidacy for Commonwealth Secretary-General, describing it as "well-received."

During their meeting at the presidential palace in Lilongwe on Monday, President Chakwera conveyed Malawi's support for Ms. Botchwey's candidacy, citing it as a testament to President Akufo-Addo's confidence in her skills and competence.

Ms. Botchwey officially announced her candidacy last Friday in Ghana, garnering bipartisan support in the country's parliament.

The selection of a new Commonwealth Secretary-General will occur during the upcoming meeting of Heads of Government in October in Samoa, as Baroness Patricia Scotland’s final term expires at the end of 2024. 

As agreed at the last meeting of Heads of Government in Kigali in 2022, the new leader will hail from Africa.

Ms. Botchwey outlined her vision for a "new Commonwealth," emphasising priorities such as trade and investment, leveraging ICT for skills development and innovation to address youth unemployment, and developing a migration compact to address demands and deter illegal migration.

Moreover, she stressed the Commonwealth's role in tackling climate change, advocating for concerted action to safeguard the planet, especially for small island developing states.

President Chakwera welcomed Ms. Botchwey’s focus on trade, investment, and youth empowerment. Additionally, Malawi has implemented visa-free entry for Ghanaians, a move Ms. Botchwey pledged to reciprocate.