Secretary-General of Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has lauded the government of Sierra Leone for its many plans to develop the country’s maritime potential.
Adalikwu said this in Freetown during his maiden visit to the West African country where he met with the country’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Moinama Kallon; Minister of State, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mamadi Gobeh Kamara and heads of maritime agencies.
He expressed support for the country’s move to attract funding from African Development Bank (AfDB) to develop its port facilities.
He also pledged technical cooperation to assist the maritime administration build up a capacity to maximise the potentials of her Blue Economy and promote a sustainable marine environment through cleaning up of the coastline.
The MOWCA SG also identified that a properly harnessed Sierra Leone marine environment will support the country’s job creation agenda for women and youth among other things.
Adalikwu who praised the country’s efforts to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing in its territorial waters with a declaration of a ban period for commercial fishing, said valuable marine resources in West and Central Africa deserve state protection.
He pointed out that the temporary stoppage of the fishing activities would, aside from protecting the environment from pollution and other illegalities, help in naturally replenishing stocks of marine resources. Source: The Guardian Nigeria
By Adaku Onyenucheya