In response to the recent appointment of Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Kow Essuman, legal counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has criticised prominent members of the opposition National Democratic Congress for their apparent silence.

Kow Essuman asked why the NDC's flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama, his running mate, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, and the Ranking Member on Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had not yet congratulated the minister in an X post on Monday, October 28, 2024.

"I have yet to see a congratulatory message from Former President @JDMahama or his running mate, @NJOAgyemang, or the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, @S_OkudzetoAblak, on the selection of Ghana's Foreign Minister,
@AyorkorBotchwey, as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. This is the first time that a Ghanaian and an African woman has been appointed to this position. Furthermore, the selection of @AyorkorBotchwey is the most prominent international position a Ghanaian has assumed since Kofi Annan was appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations," he wrote.

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, was just chosen to serve as the Commonwealth's Secretary-General.

On October 25, 2024, at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the minister was chosen by the Commonwealth Heads of Government. She is the first person from Ghana to hold this important position.