Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has urged the members of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) to begin frank discussions on green shipping initiatives.
According to her, the use of alternative fuels with low or zero carbon in place of fossils fuels was fast becoming the new way of shipping and Africa cannot afford to be left behind as the world make these strides.
Ms Botchwey said this at the opening of the 17th Extraordinary Session of the General Assembly of MOWCA opened yesterday in Accra.
The three-day programme seeks to afford them the opportunity to discuss thorny issues confronting member states towards charting a new way forward.
MOWCA was established May 1975, to serve as the regional and international body in charge of handling all maritime matters confronting member states.
The Minister stated that the Maritime Industry must be prepared for the cost ramifications of the impending transition to cleaner fuels to ship owners in case of increased rates.
She commended the member states for their immense role in maintaining maritime safety and environmental protection.
“Your enormous contribution to the maritime industry has greatly improved the economies of members as the most cost-effective way of transporting large amounts of goods and services and more needed to be done to ensure the growth of the industry,” she added
Ms Botchwey bemoan the low level of African representation on the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) which was greatly affecting decision making at the international level.
She urged the organisation to adopt measures to make maritime education more affordable and accessible in order to create more job opportunities in the industry.
The Minister charged member states to fulfill their financial obligations to enable the organisation deliver on its mandate and also urged for transparency and accountability in all dealings by the secretariat.
The Minister for Transport and Chairman of MOWCA, Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah in his opening remarks said, sea transport remains the most cost-effective way of transporting large amount of goods over long distances.
The sea ports he explained, also provides other benefits including exploration and exploitation of natural resources which are vital to the development of our economies.
Mr Asiamah indicated that, the expansion of MOWCA was vital to the maritime industry in areas of security, prosperity and the socio-economic development of member states.
He urged the members to continue discharging their responsibilities effectively in a transparent manner in order to fulfill the mandate of the organisation for the benefits of the people.
The Secretary-General of MOWCA, Dr Paul L. Adalikwu, said the re-birth of the organisation has brought major radical changes and innovations in the reins of leadership.
He said it is his vision to establish a robust Maritime Development Bank to be located in Nigeria as well as to use the MOWCA platform to plant a lush and luxuriant economic tree for the entire African continent.
Mr Adalikwu urged the members to take far reaching decisions that would transform the organisation into an enviable one.
BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU
