(Commonwealth)__With the Commonwealth Secretariat celebrating its 60th anniversary, the occasion is both a moment for reflection and one of commemoration of a timespanning odyssey of farsighted leadership and abiding commitment to equality, cooperation, and shared values. This record achievement, accomplished under the aegis of newly independent nations whose ideals and aspirations it was conceived to meet and in accordance with teachings later expressed in the Commonwealth Charter, remains the guide to the Secretariat’s mission and mandate to this day.
Its origins lie in the early 1960s, when the majority of member states were recent post-colonial independents and wanted to create more representative and equitable international institutions. One of those to push for a permanent Commonwealth Secretariat was Ghana‘s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. His vision of a new multiracial Commonwealth and his larger Pan-African ambitions influenced attempts to re-fashion the organisation as a vehicle through which to give voice to the aspirations of its massively diverse membership.
The official suggestion for the establishment of the Secretariat was made by Uganda Prime Minister Milton Obote in 1964 during the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Meeting. This was supported by other political leaders, like Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Eric Williams, who did believe in the formation of an organization that could manage to unite and coordinate highly dissimilar nations as far as history, culture, and development were concerned.
In 1965, the Canadian foreign diplomat Arnold Smith became the initial Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat. The establishment of the Secretariat was a milestone in the evolution of the Commonwealth because it embedded in law the equality of all member states with no regard for size or economic strength. Finding accommodation in London’s Marlborough House as its headquarters further solidified the Secretariat as the hub of Commonwealth cooperation.
At this location, there was an extremely rapid increase in new membership from countries such as Malawi, Malta, Zambia, The Gambia, and Singapore, which contributed to making the Commonwealth an even more democratic and multicultural entity. The new member countries introduced fresh ideas and elevated the Secretariat into a space where all members had equal contributions and stakes in the organization’s future.
Seven Secretaries-General have led the Secretariat to date, each bringing his unique strengths and agenda. Arnold Smith built the institutional power of the Secretariat and its international presence. He was followed by Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal of Guyana, who oversaw decolonisation, promoted South–South cooperation, and led the world in opposition to apartheid.
Nigerian Chief Emeka Anyaoku enhanced the diplomatic profile of the Secretariat and its efforts toward democratic leadership. Sir Don McKinnon of New Zealand talked of peacebuilding, election monitoring, and promoting the interests of small states. India‘s Kamalesh Sharma drove youth action, women’s empowerment, and capacity development in the member states. The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, the first female Secretary-General, focused on prevention of conflict, climate resilience, law reform, and digitalization.
In 2025, a new epoch dawned when Hon. Shirley Botchwey, the first-ever African woman Secretary-General, was voted into office. Her period has witnessed more focus on resilience, economic inclusion, and global solidarity priorities in a progressively more intricate and interconnected world. In a world of cynicism and fragmentation, the Commonwealth is an oasis of hope, progress, and unity. The Secretariat remains committed to the vision of a better future for all, derived from history and inspired by the collective will of its multi-ethnic membership.
