The Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Adalikwu, has pledged to promote an inclusive African blue economy drive aimed at achieving greater economic development and diversification among the organisation’s 25 member countries.

Adalikwu also reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable shipping agenda, while promoting broader inclusivity and participation of all African coastal and landlocked countries in maritime affairs.

Adalikwu made the pledge following his re-election for a renewed four-year term after a unanimous decision at the 19th General Assembly of MOWCA held in Banjul, The Gambia.

According to him, MOWCA will continue to provide technical support to all member states with potential for seaport activities, as well as assist landlocked countries in establishing dry ports across different parts of the continent.

Adalikwu further promised to sustain the push for MOWCA’s transformation into the broader African Maritime Organisation (AMO) to unify the continent’s voice on global maritime issues.

Gambian Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, who also doubles as MOWCA’s Chairman, Ebrima Sillah, commended Adalikwu’s renewed mandate, stating that his re-election is truly deserved and on merit.

He said Adalikwu has reinforced the importance of West and Central African countries to the global maritime ecosystem through strategic engagements with other stakeholders within and outside the continent.

Sillah added that under Adalikwu’s leadership, MOWCA advanced significantly in regional maritime integration, security, capacity building, and sustainable development across its member states.

Also speaking, Ghana’s Minister of Transportation, Joseph Nikpe, praised Adalikwu as a leader with exceptional qualities whose achievements in the five-decade-old organisation are evident.

Nikpe said issues about maritime trade are central to import and export and should be treated with the kind of seriousness Adalikwu has brought to running MOWCA.

According to him, member countries’ level of awareness and involvement in MOWCA and other international activities have grown since Adalikwu first emerged as SG four years ago.