Ibn Chambas Honoured

The Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mohammed Ibn Chambas, has received Cote d?Ivoire highest honour of ?Commander of the National Order,? for his ?contribution to the search for stability and security in the sub-region.?

The Ghanaian lawyer and political scientist who assumed the ECOWAS post in February, was decorated with his medal at a ceremony in Abidjan, as part of events marking the Cote d?Ivoire?s 42nd independence anniversary. The anniversary celebrations coincided with the 5th meeting of the ECOWAS Defence and Security Commission, held from August 5-8 in Abidjan.

Dr Ibn Chambas was honoured alongside his deputy in charge of Defence and Security Affairs, Malian General Cheick Oumar Diara and six Defence Chiefs of Staff of ECOWAS member States ? Senegal, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso and Mali ? who were decorated with ?Officer of the National Order of Cote d?Ivoire? medals.

Decorating the recipients, Ivorian Prime Minister, Affi N?guessan praised them for ?their contribution to the search for stability and security in the sub region and commended ECOWAS for its role in restoring peace in member states faced with conflict.? N?guessan said ?Without peace there can be no economic growth or integration?, and urged ECOWAS and its Defence and Security Commission in particular, to continue its activities in fostering co-operation and integration among the Armed Forces of the sub-region as a model for Africa.

Responding on behalf of the honourees, Dr Chambas expressed appreciation for what he said was President Laurent Gbagbo?s commitment to ECOWAS as demonstrated by his government?s willingness to host important meetings of the organization, such as the Yamoussoukro Summit in May and the Defence and Security Commission.