African ports challenged to work toward improving infrastructure so as to continue attracting foreign vessels.
by Blue Africa News
African maritime bodies have been urged to strengthen collaboration to effectively tackle safety, security and environmental challenges facing the continent’s shipping sector.
Addressing delegates during the 15th Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central African region (Abuja MoU) recently held in Conakry, Guinea, Dr Paul Adalikwu, Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), said cooperation was not only important in taming the aforementioned challenges, but also essential in enhancing Africa’s visibility in global maritime governance.
“As we meet again under the Abuja MoU umbrella, it is my utmost desire that we take advantage of these opportunities to foster partnerships and collaboration in addressing maritime challenges that deny us visibility in global discussions,” said the MOWCA Secretary General.
African ports, he added, must work toward improving infrastructure so as to continue attracting foreign vessels.
“If our ports are not deemed safe and secure to receive foreign-going vessels, it will affect our international trade. It is therefore important that we continue to improve our port infrastructure to attract international tonnage.”
Abuja MoU is one of the 9 regional MoUs and 1 National MoU established pursuant to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) resolution A.682(17) of 1991.
Operating under a cooperative agreement with IMO, Abuja MoU was established as an inter-governmental organization comprising the maritime administrations of over 18 countries bordering the Atlantic Coast of Africa.
During the recent meeting, key decisions were arrived at, including the acceptance of Mauritania into the Abuja MoU following the signing of its letter of accession, making it the 21st full member state of the Abuja MoU.
Additionally, the committee endorsed Captain Sunday Umoren for another tenure of four years as the substantive Secretary-General of the Abuja MoU, endorsed the 2025 and 2026 concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) themes on ballast water management and cargo securing respectively, and reaffirmed commitment to continuous training, mentorship, and regional cooperation among Port State Control Officers (PSCOs).
Abuja MoUs member states are Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cote D’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo and recently Mauritania.
With the maritime sector increasingly becoming a key sector in unlocking Africa’s blue economy, the Blue Africa Conference & Exhibition (BACE) in September signed a landmark five-year strategic partnership with the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA).
The partnership agreement was signed in Abidjan, Ivory Coast by Mudzithe Phiri, event Director of Blue Africa Conference & Exhibition, and Dr. Paul Adalikwu.
The partnership is founded on unlocking Africa’s maritime gateway, driving youth employment and entrepreneurship, building Africa’s blue economy future and leadership excellence in maritime development.
Oliver Ochieng, Blue Africa News