The National House of Chiefs has sent a congratulatory message to Daasebre Professor (Emeritus) Oti Boateng, Omanhene of New Juabeng and President of Eastern Regional House of Chiefs on his re-election as a member of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) of the United Nations. A statement signed by the President of the House, Wulugu Naba Pugansoa Naa Professor John S. Nabila noted “I on behalf of the august house wish to congratulate you for being re-elected by acclamation as a member of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) of the United Nations for a four-year term, beginning on 1st January 2011.” The statement said the conferment of the honour on Daasebre Oti Boateng again bears testimony to his sense of focus and excellent in the execution of his God-given assignment as an International Civil Servant. It said: “We are encouraged and proud of you for your success and the National House of Chief says congratulations to you and more grease to your elbow.” Daasebre Oti Boateng was re-elected as a member of the ICSC at the Fifth Committee of the United Nations, in New York earlier this month by acclamation. The ICSC was established by the General Assembly for the regulation and co-ordination of the conditions of service of the United Nations Common System. Under its statute, the Commission consists of fifteen members appointed by the General Assembly, “in their personal capacity as individuals of recognized competence who have had substantial experience of executive responsibility in public administration or related fields, particularly management.’’ Daasebre Oti Boateng, a former Government Statistician of Ghana (1982-2000) and former Chairman of both UN Statistical Commission (1987) and the International Conference of Labour Statisticians (1993), has been a member of the ICSC since 2003 and has made significant contributions to its deliberations. Following the February 2010 Chile earthquake, which coincided with the Commission’s 70th session in the capital Santiago, Daasebre has developed an innovative root-based model for disaster risk reduction challenging long held assumptions on disaster management and sustainable development which has received the approbation of the United Nations Secretary-General, His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon. The Fifth Committee also declared Mr. Kingston Papie Rhodes of Sierra Leone, Madam Carleen Gardner of Jamaica and Marie-Francoise Bechtel of France elected by acclamation while Mr.Eugeniusz Wyzner of Poland was elected by 110 votes to 75. They were all recommended for appointment by the current General Assembly. Daasebre’s candidature was supported by the Government of Ghana and endorsed by the African Union. A high level Ghana delegation headed by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Leslie Kojo Christian, attended the meeting to give Daasebre the needed support. Story: SIFAT COMMUNICATIONS (www.sifatcomms.co.uk)