MEMBER STATES TO COLLABORATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIES FOR UTILISATION OF MARITIME RESOURCES – MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT
The Minister for Transport and Chairman for the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah has said the Maritime industry contributes immensely to the development and prosperity of Nations.
In addition, to reap the full benefits of proximity to the maritime space, Member States of MOWCA need to collaborate more in the development of strategies for the sustainable consumption of maritime resources.
He called for the urgent revitalization of regional bodies particularly MOWCA and the need to be committed to the objectives that brought them as member states together.
Addressing the 16th Extraordinary Session of the General Assembly of MOWCA, he said, the organization was aimed at providing the sub-region with an institutional mechanism for having control over the cost of carriage by sea of foreign trade Member States. It also sought to ensure the provision of profitable transport services within Member States.
‘‘MOWCA has a very important mandate to execute for the safety, security and sustainable exploration of resources in our maritime domain for the benefit of our people. We concede, the Organization has experienced some challenges in the past but this is not the time to apportion blame. I believe we can learn lessons from the past to guide how we approach the future. With a moment of reflection, resolve and dedication, we can turn our Organization into a strong pillar that would benefits our people’’, he said.
According to Hon Ofori Asiamah, much has been written about the “blue economy” thus the quest for development in the sector requires effective collaboration and coordination amongst Member States and no single member state can make significant strides on their own.
The Minister noted, Member States would be required to make important decisions that will determine how the Organization operates including the election of a new Secretary-General.
“Let us remember that we reform not to please others, but because we value what this Organization stands for. We reform because we believe in its future. To rejuvenate our common endeavour is to renew our confidence not only in MOWCA’s objectives but also in each other. We should demand more of ourselves as well as of our Organization”, he added.
He disclosed that most Members States are yet to honor their full commitments with respect to financial, administrative and operational obligations. He therefore encouraged an urgent resolve of member States to honor their obligations.
The Minister urged all member states to help achieve the aims and objectives that brought them together and expressed his desire to do his utmost best in fulfilling his duties as MOWCA chair to contribute to the success of the organization.
Source : Ministry of Transport – Ghana
