SG MOWCA VISITS TOGO’S MINISTER OF MARITIME ECONOMY, FISHERIES AND COASTAL PROTECTION
ORU Leonard
The Hon. Minister of Maritime Economy, Fisheries and Coastal Protection received in audience Dr Paul Adalikwu, the Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation for West and Central Africa (MOWCA), on 22nd August, 2022.
During the meeting which was held at the instance of the Dr Adalikwu, SG presented challenges the Organisation was facing on his assumption of office in January 2022, which were basically, paucity of funds left in the bank accounts by the predecessor, aging vehicles, low capacity of staff, lack of implementation of good governance principles among others. To this effect, the Audit report of ERNST & YOUNG circulated to Ministers will be submitted to the 9th session of the Bureau for decision on further actions.
SG further informed Hon. Minister of activities performed, mainly working visits to Ministers of Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, and in the nearest future, Chad and Equatorial Guinea for rebuilding confidence, engagement with SG of International Maritime Organisation, steps taken toward AU, ADB, WMU, KOICA, JAICA, and AfCFTA, need assessment at the Maritime Academies and the other Specialised Organs of MOWCA (PMAWCA, UASC).
On the issue of collaboration with IMO, Hon. Minister agreed to be in attendance of the meetings (2nd to 5th October in London) for which a Circular Letter was sent to all member States, and to get his country involved in the planning of the Conference on anti-piracy laws of member States.
Hon. Minister promised to liaise with Ministry of Finance to consider a payment plan of Togo’s arrears of contributions to the budget of MOWCA.
In the frame of collecting data on cargo throughput, SG informed Hon. Minister that a formal request will be submitted following the Circular letter on the issue and called for the support of Minister to facilitate this activity.
Hon. Minister indicated that he fully supports the initiative of transforming MOWCA into the African Maritime Organisation given that shipping is a core element for the success of AfCFTA as well as a powerful tool for boosting the economy of African States.
Togo being one of the member States that have signed the Charter of the Regional Maritime Development Bank, Hon. Minister indicated he will diligently consider the appointment of the representative of Togo to the Board of Directors.
Hon. Minister also promised to designate a focal point in his Office who will liaise with the Secretariat General of MOWCA to ease permanent communication whenever the need be.
Hon. Minister further recommended to SG MOWCA to include in his action plans the promotion of African Shipping Lines to serve the interests of African shippers, the strengthening of cabotage regime with a view to boosting intra-African trade, the use of fuel compliant with international standards by ships calling at the African ports, the management of the coastal area through protection measures.
