The Assembly of the International Seabed Authority, meeting at Kingston, this morning elected by acclamation Nii Allotey Odunton of Ghana as Secretary-General of the Authority for a four-year term from 1 January 2009.

The decision, in accordance with article 160, paragraph 2 (b), of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, is contained in document ISBA/14/A/L.3.

The Council of the International Seabed Authority International adopted a decision proposing Nii Allotey Odunton of Ghana as the sole candidate for election as Secretary-General of the Authority.

The Council’s recommendation now goes to the Authority’s Assembly which is expected to vote sometime next week.

Mr. Odunton, currently Deputy to the Secretary-General, will succeed Mr. Satya N. Nandan, who is stepping down at the end of the year after three successive four-year terms as Secretary-General.

The International Seabed Authority will elect a new Secretary-General and half of its Executive Council and also continue work on a regulatory regime for sulphides and cobalt-rich crusts at its fourteenth session in Kingston, Jamaica, from 26 May to 6 June 2008.

The Authority will also adopt the budget for the biennium 2009-2010 as well as a scale of assessment for contributions to it and consider a report of the outgoing Secretary-General, among other substantive matters.