The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

Ceremony by the ACP Committee of Ambassadors to mark the assumption of duty of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas as the new ACP Secretary General

Brussels, 1st March 2010

An extraordinary session of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors was held today at ACP House to mark the assumption of duty of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas as the new ACP Secretary General.

In order to emphasize the strong backing that Dr. Chambas has from his country and his region, Ghana, his country of origin, was represented by the Honourable Muhammad Mumuni, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ghana. In his speech, Mr Mumuni thanked the ACP Group for the confidence that they have shown in his compatriot by appointing him to this elevated post as head of the ACP Group of 79 countries.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria, currently the chair of ECOWAS, also wanted the Group to understand that not only does Dr. Chambas has the backing of his country, but the whole region. To this end, Ambassador T.D. Hart, Advisor to the President of Nigeria, delivered a brief speech to the extraordinary session.

The President of the Committee of Ambassadors, H.E. Mr René Makongo from Gabon, then requested each of the representatives from the six ACP regions to offer words of welcome. All the ambassadors expressed the congratulations of their regions to Dr. Chambas and offered their full support to ensure that his term of office would be successful.