Accra, Nov. 18, GNA - After almost a decade at the helm of Affairs at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as its President, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas was on Tuesday, unanimously appointed as the new Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The election was held in Brussels during the 90th session of the Council of Ministers of ACP.

Dr. Chambas will succeed Sir John Kaputin from Papua New Guinea who has been holding the post for the past five years.

He assumes office on 1st March next year.

Dr. Chambas beat two other West African contestants from Cape Verde and The Gambia to the job.

The Ambassadors representing the two losing candidates, in a show of solidarity pledged their support to the new Secretary General and promised to work amicably for the success of both the new scribe and the ACP.

Before his appointment as Secretary General of ECOWAS in Dakar on December 21 2001, Dr Chambas was a serving member of the Ghana Parliament. He had also served as Deputy Speaker, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Minister of Education in Ghana. 18 Nov. 09