Dr Chambas steps down from Parliament
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 February 2001 - The Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas on Thursday officially resigned as a Member of Parliament for Bimbilla Constituency. Until his appointment to the high office of ECOWAS Executive Secretary, Dr Chambas was the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP.
Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, the Speaker of the House announced in Parliament following a letter of resignation, Dr Chambas had written to Parliament. According to the Constitution, the Clerk of Parliament has within seven days to inform the Electoral Commission that the Parliamentary seat for Bimbilla is vacant.
The Electoral Commissioner will within 30 days cause a by-election to be held to elect a Member of Parliament for that constituency. Mr Ala Adjetey congratulated Dr Chambas on his election as the first civil servant of the sub-region and invited him to make to his parting speech to Parliament.
Dr Chambas said: "I am greatly inspired and highly motivated by the exceptionally strong support I enjoy from the Parliament of Ghana. "I take over the ECOWAS secretariat at a time when our sub-region has embraced many new initiatives to build a peaceful democratic, economically vibrant and integrated West Africa".
He said the protocol on good governance, the fast track approach to trade liberalisation and monetary union, various sub-regional infrastructure projects in energy, road, rail and telecommunications, the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) would all contribute to the realisation to the noble objectives of the founding fathers of ECOWAS.
Dr Chambas said the creation of the ECOWAS Parliament was an acknowledgement of the crucial role the various Houses of Parliament in the sub-region could help to build a democratic and truly integrated West African community with greater opportunities for private sector growth, employment generation and reduction in the high poverty levels.
"I look forward to a more active role of this esteem Parliament in pushing forward the integration process into a dynamic participation of Ghana's Parliament in the ECOWAS Parliament.
He said as he was leaving Ghana's Parliament: "I feel deeply touched". I shall certainly miss the camaraderie that has characterised our relationship here. “It is my hope that the confidence reposed in me by Ghana and Ghanaians would become beneficial to our sub-region.
"This is a time of great challenges but also of tremendous opportunity. Let us work together, face the challenges squarely and take advantage of the opportunities to make the 21st century, Africa's century of destiny - a century of African renaissance.
Dr Chambas thanked President John Agyekum Kufuor and his government and able lieutenant, Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Paa Kwasi Ndum, Minister of Planning and Regional Co-operation for putting him up and campaigning vigorously for his election.
Papa Owusu Ankomah, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, urged Dr Chambas to bring closer together the Anglo and Francophone countries to ensure the monetary and political integration f the sub-region.
He pledged the support of the government to the Executive Secretary to enable him to achieve the respect and dignity the office deserved to make Ghana proud.
Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader, described Dr Chambas as a shining member of the NDC that was nurtured as a flower that has blossomed with a sweet scent blowing over the sub-region.
GRi../
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