Hon. Shirley Botchwey elected as new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth 

Hon Shirley Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana was elected as the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth at the Heads of Government meeting in Apia Samoa.

Minister Botchwey’s election makes her only the second woman ever to hold the post of Commonwealth Secretary General and she succeeds the first woman in that role, Baroness Patricia Scotland, K.C.. She is also the second African to be appointed to the post.

In accepting her appointment, stated that she see this “as affirmation that the Commonwealth is poised to rise to the occasion as the world commits to “multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow” and recognised [that with regards to] the global work to empower women and ensure gender equality [this] is still work in progress [and] a lot more remains to be done.”

Foreign Minister Botchwey’s vision for the Commonwealth in one where the institution “is transformed for the changing times: building resilience in our democracies to ensure that all citizens benefit from the democratic dividend; building resilience through new models of development cooperation for sustainable development; and ensuring an effective Secretariat, which is accountable, responsive and fully funded and resourced to play the ambitious role required of it.” Thus, Minister Botchwey pledged to work “to make the Commonwealth relevant and consequential in a fast changing world where democracies are under threat, Commonwealth economies are unable to meet the expectations of their people”, and the world is facing the climate crisis.

President of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in congratulating Foreign Minister Botchwey expressed his strong confidence in her “lead[ing] our aspiration for renewal and for building future-looking resilient and thriving economies, through Community cooperation and action.”

Prior to her election as Commonwealth Secretary General Foreign Minister Botchwey served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana and a member of the National Security Council since January 2017. During her time as Foreign Minister Ghana was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and Hon. Shirley Botchwey “led the unanimous passage of UN Resolution 27/19 in December 2023 which permits African Union-led Peace Support Operations [and] … she also worked with Norway to secure adoption of UN Resolutions 26/24 to address piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.”

On behalf of the Chairperson Ms Kamela Palma, Board of Trustees, and Director the Ramphal Institute extends hearty congratulations and best wishes to Foreign Minister Botchwey.

 

 

The Ramphal Institute on 21^st November 2023 changed its registered status from a Charitable Incorporate Company (CIC) to that of a foundation type Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), making it one of the first Commonwealth organisations in England and Wales to adopt the new legal status.

The new registered status as a CIO required the Institute to adopt a new legal structure using legislation which came into effect in 2018 for non-profit organisations and charities. As a result of this change, the Institute is now registered with only the Charities Commission and is no longer subject to company legislation or registered with Companies House.

Beyond the changes in terms of legal personality, the shift to Foundation CIO status has important implications for the Institute and the main benefits have to do with its legal personality (the Institute is now able to enter contracts, sue and be sued, and to hold property in its own name – rather than in the name of its trustees), and its members have limited liability (their liability in the event the charity becomes insolvent is limited or nil). The shift to CIO status is also expected to be more cost-effective and simpler structure than a company limited by guarantee, especially as it relates to filing of its accounts.

The shift does not affect the priority areas of work or the programmes and activities offered by the Institute.

The Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is an alternative legal form for a charity. Part 11 of the Charities Act 2011 creates the basic legal framework, complemented by the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012, the Charities Act 2011 (Charitable Incorporated Organisations) (Constitutions) Regulations 2012 and the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012. Regulations to enable the conversion of existing charitable companies and community interest companies to charitable incorporated organisations came into force on 1 January 2018 (although applications for conversion of community interest companies will apparently not be accepted until September 2018 and further guidance is expected from the Charity Commission).