GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda has become the second Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to publicly endorse Ghana’s nominee for the position of Secretary General of the Commonwealth grouping when the elections are held in October this year.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific. It is home to one-third of the world’s population and includes advanced and developing economies.
Earlier this month, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, launched a bid to replace the Dominican-born Dame Patricia Scotland, who served two terms at the head of the London-based Commonwealth grouping.
So far, no other contender has emerged for the top post ahead of the October 22 election.
Grenada said it would endorse Botchwey earlier this month after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana addressed a joint sitting of the Grenada Parliament.
Now, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who held talks with
Botchwe on the margins of the 46th regular meeting of CARICOM leaders now underway here.
A government statement said that during their discussions, Botchwey told that she would reposition the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat with priority given to areas such as trade and investment; climate change; youth, education, skills, innovation, and start-ups; mobility and labor markets; and the plight of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
In his response, Browne outlined his administration’s support for Botchwey as he commented on the historical ties between Antigua and Barbuda and Ghana, which have also resulted in harmonious diplomatic relations between both countries.
“He also committed to strengthening relations between Ghana and Antigua and Barbuda through more people-to-people exchanges and increased air linkages between the African continent and the Caribbean region, which the government has committed to.
“Further, Prime Minister Browne used the occasion to extend an invitation to the Honourable Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, to the upcoming 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States, which will be held from 27-30 May 2024 in Antigua and Barbuda,” the statement added.
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