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The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has held discussions with the Founding Chairman of South-South Cooperation Council (SSCC), Dr Viktor Sebek, at her office, Marlborough House, in London.
The meeting, among other things, discussed issues on climate change, the possibility of organising a meeting of Commonwealth ambassadors from Africa on SSCC’s programme of culture as a tool for peace in Africa and other areas of common interest between the organisations.
Facilitated by the Chairman of SSCC Africa, Ladi Nylander, the meeting afforded Dr Sebek the opportunity to, on behalf of the SSCC, express appreciation to Ms Botchwey for her support during its Earthsavers UNESCO Artist for Peace Forum in the Philippines.
In attendance was the Chief of Staff of the Commonwealth of Nations, Kwabena Osei-Danquah.
As General Secretary, Ms Botchwey is first African woman and the second African overall to lead the association of 56 countries of Commonwealth in Africa, Pacific and the Caribbean, making up a third of the world’s population and more than a quarter of the United Nations membership.
The SSCC, on the other hand, is a global NGO founded as a facilitator and catalyst to promote south-south dialogue, in the area of politics, culture and economics, as well as strengthen world peace.
Since its establishment in 2016 in Colombia, SSCC has joined forces with many policy makers and academic experts across the global south to seek novel mechanisms for strengthening peace and popularising and implementing Sustainable Development Goals
Dr Sebek proposed the presentation of SSCC’s documentary “Ulysses from Ghana,” its recent forum on Ancestral Wisdom in protecting the environment, to ambassadors of 56 Commonwealth countries during one of its meetings.
He emphasised that climate change was the greatest threat to the environment and how the world responded to the crisis would greatly impact both current and future generations
Dr Sebek said a number of proposals for possible cooperation between the two organisations had been submitted to the relevant directors general and was looking forward to favourable responses.
Ms Botchwey, welcoming Dr Sebek to her office, said the two organisations shared common values and were keen on positive cooperations that inure to the benefit of their people.
“We share common values — improving democracy, good governance, peace, human rights and equal opportunity and it is important for such cooperation that ultimately benefits all.”
The general secretary stressed that one of her three top priorities was climate change and would exploit every opportunity to not only draw attention to the issue, but also find a workable solution to the threat it poses.
“Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time and we all need to come together to exploit workable solutions to reduce its impact,” she stated.
She further commended the efforts around the world, including the Opticloud programme of the Chairman and Managing Director of Ravin Group of Companies, Vijay Karia, to clean up digital waste created by AI, and the work of the great Amazon leader, Puyr Tembe, a prominent leader of the Tembé Indigenous peoples from Alto Rio Guamá in the Brazilian Amazon.
“We all have a role to play and whether on a broad scale or in our individual small corners, collectively, it will make an impact to help improve the situation,” Ms Botchwey stated.
