The Commonwealth reimagined

Ghana’s minister of foreign affairs, the Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, discusses her vision for a modern Commonwealth and how the organization can evolve and match today’s demands from its members. The death of HM Queen Elizabeth II has focused attention on the future of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is an expanding voluntary organisation of 56 independent countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific. Its appeal is increasingly beyond the circle of former British colonies – ex-French colonies Togo and Gabon officially joined in October 2022 and the ex-Portuguese colony, Angola, has applied. The Commonwealth Secretariat, established in 1965, is its main intergovernmental agency, which coordinates and carries out much of the Commonwealth’s work, supported by a network of more than 80 organisations. King Charles III now heads the Commonwealth, which is focused on shared goals of prosperity, democracy and peace. However, the future of the Commonwealth and its purpose are unclear, and the organization needs to develop a sharper agenda on what its international contribution can be across its 56 state members and their peoples. The minister discusses key questions including: What should a modern Commonwealth look like and how can it best operate? How can the organization impact policies and actions at a country level? What role will young people play in the future of the Commonwealth? How can the organization harness collective resources and technology to tackle major global issues such as climate change? Can the issue of mobility and immigration among member states be managed? As with all Chatham House member events, questions from members drive the conversation.