Governor General

John Buchard, Governor-General of Canada

The title governor general is used in various countries to designate a representative of a head of state, with powers that differ according to state.

In member states of the Commonwealth of Nations

The fifteen Commonwealth countries that currently have a Governor-General are:

• Antigua and Barbuda: Rodney Williams (from 14 August 2014)
• Australia (See Governor General of Australia): David Hurley (since July 1, 2019)
• Bahamas: Cornelius A. Smith (since 28 June 2019)
• Belize: Froyla Tzalam (since 27 May 2021)
• Canada (See Governor General of Canada): Mary Simon (from 26 July 2021)
• Granada: Cécile La Grenade (since 7 May 2013)
• Jamaica: Patrick Allen (from 26 February 2009)
• New Zealand (See New Zealand Governor General): Cindy Kiro (from October 21, 2021)
• Papua New Guinea: Bob Dadae (from February 28, 2017)
• San Cristóbal y Nieves: Tapley Seaton (since 20 May 2015)
• Saint Lucia: Errol Charles (internal, 11 November 2021)
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Susan Dougan (as of August 1, 2019)
• Solomon Islands: David Vunagi (from 7 July 2019)
• Tuvalu: Tofiga Vaevalu Falani (from 28 September 2021)
• United Kingdom: There is no such office, but the functions of governor-general are:
  • Chief Minister (North Ireland, Scotland and Wales)
  • British Overseas Territory falls to each region in the corresponding governor.
  • In each region that belongs to the United Kingdom, in the event that they do not have autonomy with the principal minister or governor, as the case may be, these functions will fall under the prime minister of the United Kingdom.

Other countries that are or were part of the Commonwealth and that are currently republics had the figure of governor general:

• Ireland, until 1949.
• India, until 1950 (See Governor General of India).
• Pakistan, until 1956 (See Governor General of India).
• Ghana, until 1960.
• South Africa, until 1961.
• Tanzania, until 1962.
• Nigeria, until 1963.
• Kenya, until 1964.
• Malaui, until 1966.
• Gambia, up to 1970.
• Guyana, until 1970.
• Rodesia (Zimbabue), until 1970.
• Sierra Leone, until 1971.
• Sri Lanka, until 1972.
• Malta, until 1974.
• Trinidad and Tobago, until 1978.
• Fiyi, until 1987.
• Mauritius, until 1992.
• Barbados, up to 2021.

In other countries

The term was used to refer to the head of government of Korea during the Japanese occupation.

In the Jammu and Kashmir area, which is disputed between India and Pakistan, there is the office of Governor-General of Jammu and Kashmir.