Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas was appointed Secretary General of the ACP Group on 16th November 2009 by the ACP Council of Ministers and took up office at the ACP Secretariat on 1st March 2010. A prominent African public figure, Dr Chambas takes up the office during a critical time for the ACP Group, marked by an uneven recovery across member states from the global financial crisis, a transformed geopolitical landscape, and an intensified focus on the Group’s future in light of the approaching conclusion of its partnership agreement with the European Union in 2020.

Known for his visionary style of leadership and astute negotiating skills, Dr Chambas has taken dedicated action towards addressing these challenges through the reinvigoration of the privileged partnership with the European Union, the consolidation of South-South cooperation amongst ACP countries and region as well as other Southern partners, forging strategic alliances with key international organisations and groups, he has also promptly launched essential reforms within the Secretariat through the 2011-2014 Strategy for Renewal and Transformation. His reform initiatives defined through a consultative process have been embraced enthusiastically by staff and acclaimed by ACP Countries” as timely and “breathing new life into the ACP”.

In February 2011 for example, the ACP Secretariat in partnership with the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) held the first ever symposium on South-South relations between the ACP and IBSA states – India, Brazil and South Africa. This led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretariat and Brazil in December 2011 to promote technical cooperation and dialogue between the parties. Under Dr Chambas’ dynamic leadership, the ACP’s longstanding collaboration with the European Union has been vigorously maintained through their joint institutions, an active and regular dialogue and joint declarations on contemporary challenges such as the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), climate change and the global financial crisis. The ACP also played a prominent role in the Cotonou Agreement, Article 96 Dialogue involving the EU and Niger, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, respectively,  countries in whose transition to democracy he has been involved over the years.

Other key cooperation agreements have also been signed within the past year with international bodies such as the UNDP, UNIDO, ITC, IOM, International Monetary Fund, and the World Customs Organisation, while the Group’s longstanding relations with bodies such as the OIF, the Commonwealth and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM), have been enhanced. Meanwhile he has used his extensive network with the African Union  and the ACP Regional Organisation to forge closer working relations and synergy with the ACP Secretariat by spearheading the creation of the Inter-Regional Organisations Coordination Committee (ACP-IROCC) of which he is Co-President along with the Secretary-General of COMESA.

Immediately upon assumption of duty he made it a priority to forge closer relations with ACP regions and it is to his credit that the ACP was admitted as observer at the Pacific Islands Forum during its 42^nd Session of Heads of State and Government in Auckland, New Zealand, in September 2011.

Dr. Chambas was also invested by the President of the World Bank to serve on the Advisory Council of the World Development Report (2011).

 

ECOWAS

Before his role at the ACP Secretariat, Dr Chambas served as President of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) since January 1st 2007 and prior to this, as Executive Secretary since February 1st 2002 when ECOWAS was a Secretariat. With a staff compliment of 530 and an annual operational budget of about 140 million Euros, Dr. Chambas managed the human and financial resources at the ECOWAS Commission, while also administering the utilisation of the European Development Fund (EDF) under the Regional Indicative Program on behalf of the West Africa region – which, under the 10^th EDF, amounted to roughly 600 million. He also served as Chief Regional Negotiator in the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations between West Africa and the European Union, whereby he engaged frequently with ACP Group and EC states.

As President, Dr. Chambas successfully positioned ECOWAS as a model regional organisation in Africa, largely as a result of its accomplishments in economic integration and the resolution of the conflicts in Sierra-Leone, Liberia, Cote d'lvoire, Guinea-Bissau and Togo in the past, and more recently, in Guinea and Niger. Under his guidance, the Organisation adopted a new strategic vision and embarked on a profound restructuring of its institutions to make them more relevant to the needs of member states in the regional development and integration efforts.

To this end, he was proactive in the design of credible ECOWAS programmes for the creation of a common market for the region - a free exchange zone with a common external tariff and harmonised policies in critical sectors, such as agriculture, trade infrastructure development, education and health. While at ECOWAS, Dr Chambas raised its profile internationally and forged beneficial relations between it and development partners, such as the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank and numerous development partner countries.

Within the context of South-South cooperation, he also worked to forge closer cooperation between ECOWAS and its member states on one hand, and the Caribbean nations, particularly in the sharing of ideas and best practices in the areas of health, energy and tourism. The relationship between ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) Commission was bolstered, being acutely aware of the interrelationship between the regional and continental integration processes. ECOWAS also achieved significant synergy between its integration programmes and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) initiatives, breaking new ground with regard to the regional approach to the implementation of NEPAD. At the same time, Dr Chambas was able to lead the region to deeper economic ties with Japan (through the TICAD) and open new vistas of mutually beneficial economic cooperation with the emergent markets of Asia, such as India and China. Indeed, the partnership with Asia has provided a new impetus to regional infrastructure development in West Africa.

In 2008, he was appointed as a member of the Danish African Commission for Effective Development Cooperation, a task force of renowned international development experts and personalities set up to advise the Government of Denmark on the best ways to ensure effective development cooperation in favour of youth empowerment and job creation in Africa. Indeed, under his leadership, ECOWAS emerged as the most dynamic and advanced Regional Economic Community of free movement of persons, goods and services in Africa.

PARLIAMENTARY AND GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Prior to heading the ECOWAS Secretariat, Dr. Chambas was a Member of Parliament in Ghana, where he served at various periods as First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Chairman of the Privileges Committee, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Member of the Select Committee on Education and the Committee on subsidiary Legislation.

Between April 1997 and December 2000, Dr. Chambas was the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education. In that capacity he had responsibility for the country's five universities, ten polytechnics and agencies/institutions charged with the formulation of policies on higher education, accreditation and maintenance of standards in tertiary institutions.

Between 1991 and 1996, he was centrally involved in the ECOWAS mediation efforts in Liberia and directly participated in the negotiations leading to the agreements ending the Liberian civil war. In 1996, Dr. Chambas was a key member of the Government of Ghana's campaign team for the election of His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan to his first term as Secretary–General of the United Nations Organisation. He was also a member of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which worked to facilitate a transition to constitutional democratic governance in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

Dr. Chambas had first entered Government in 1987 as Deputy Foreign Minister of Ghana, where he was a member of the Head of State’s summit delegations to a number of countries such as the United States of America, China, United Kingdom, France, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. He also led Ghana's delegation to several countries and conferences including the United Nations General Assembly, ministerial meetings of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, the Movement of the Non-Aligned Countries (NAM), and the Commonwealth, amongst others.

EDUCATION

Dr. Chambas holds degrees in Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon (B. A. 1973) and Cornell University, Ithaca New York (M. A. 1977; PhD 1980) and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio (J. D. 1984). He has been admitted to practice law in Ghana and the State of Ohio. His working experience in the United States includes teaching at Oberlin College, and practicing law with The Greater Cleveland Legal Aid Society and the Cleveland, Ohio, Law Office of Forbes, Forbes and Teamor. He also served a four-year term (1997-2001) on the Cornell University Council, the first African to serve on the Council of the prestigious Ivy-league American University. He was re-elected for another four-year term from 2003-2007, and has been re-elected for a third four-year term from 2009-2012.

AWARDS

Throughout his career, Dr. Mohamed lbn Chambas has served with dedication, single-mindedness and distinction in advancing the cause and ideals of his employers, and for the progress and dignity of mankind. He has received several citations and been decorated for his services in different domains. His list of awards includes the following:

• Cote d'Ivoire: Commander of the National Order of Cote d'Ivoire, August 8, 2002.
• Guinea-Bissau: Highest National Award (for the restoration of Democracy and putting Nation on Path of Sustainable Economic Development), September 24, 2005.
• Ghana: Order of Volta 2nd Category (For Distinguished Diplomatic and Public Service to the Country), June 30, 2006.
• Ghana: LLD Honoris Causa by the University of Ghana, Legon, (For a Distinguished career in international diplomacy, contribution to tertiary education in Ghana), August 11, 2008.
• Liberia: National Legislative Assembly Certificate of Appreciation (for role in the signing of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the Civil War), October 2006.
• Liberia: Awarded, crowned and decorated with Knight Grand Band in the Humane Order of African Redemption, July 26, 2009.
• Benin: Commander of the National Order of Benin (Commandeur de l’Ordre National du Bénin), 8th January 2010, in recognition of the numerous and loyal services he rendered ECOWAS and the Benin Nation.
• Guinea: Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit of the Republic of Guinea (Grand Officier de L’Ordre National du Merite de la République de Guinée) on 8th April 2010, in recognition of his efforts to restore a climate of peace and security in Guinea during his term as President of the ECOWAS Commission.
• German Africa Award 2010.
• Crans Montana Foundation Award 2011

Dr. Chambas was born on 7 December 1950. He is the father of four children.