By Zika Bobby
The Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has stepped up interaction with the United States government to lift restrictions placed on some member countries allegedly implicated in illicit shipping activities.
Adalikwu who led a delegation from the MOWCA Secretariat to the US Embassy in Abidjan for a first leg of the strategic consultation aimed at promoting seamless participation of MOWCA countries in international trade within the global maritime space, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to the best ethical and lawful maritime practices.
Addressing the U.S Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Jessica Davis Ba, the MOWCA SG stated the organisation’s interest in promoting the International Ship and Port facility Security (ISPS) code that aims at enhancing security of vessels and their ports of call.
He expressed the commitment of MOWCA in promoting environmentally friendly, safe and cost effective shipping without any encumbrance that may limit the economic potential of member countries.
He said MOWCA under his watch is committed to training and retraining of maritime practitioners and experts to enhance the human capital capabilities of member states
Responding, the U.S. Ambassador recalled that on February 6, 2024, she signed, on behalf of the United States, a Maritime Law Enforcement Agreement in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to facilitate cooperative maritime law enforcement activities to identify, combat, prevent and interdict illicit transnational maritime activities.
She also sought to know active MOWCA member states, including land-linked countries for clearer identification. She also advised that MOWCA should share a prioritised list of its expectations with the Political and Economic Officer of the Embassy.