ROSL Annual Lecture: Hon. Shirley Botchwey

About This Event

Prior to her appointment, she served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration from January 2017 to January 2024 and was a member of Ghana’s National Security Council. Her tenure was marked by significant reforms in foreign policy delivery, which strengthened Ghana’s diplomatic footprint and introduced transformative improvements in consular services through digitisation and innovation.

During her time as Foreign Minister, she chaired the Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 2020 to 2022, leading strategic responses to security crises, democratic transitions and regional institutional reform. She played a key role in the passage of landmark UN Security Council Resolution 2667 in 2022, enabling the financing of African Union-led peace operations — a historic achievement during Ghana’s tenure as a non-permanent member of the Council.

She also helped secure UN Resolution 2634 addressing piracy and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and was instrumental in shaping Ghana’s high-profile “Year of Return” and “Beyond the Return” initiatives, strengthening cultural and economic ties with the global African diaspora.

Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Information, and Trade and Industry, during President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration (2001–2009). From 2005 to 2021, she was a Member of Parliament for the Weija and later Anyaa-Sowutuom constituencies, representing the largest population base in Ghana’s legislature across four consecutive terms.

Prior to entering politics, Shirley Botchwey led a successful marketing and communications firm and served as a consultant in the tourism sector.

Ticket includes a glass of fizz after the event.

The talk is open to ROSL members and their named guests only.

This talk will not be live streamed or recorded.