The 8th Annual Conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) has kicked off at the EJS Ministerial Complex, with delegates from over forty (40) countries and over 200 international guests from within and outside of Africa, and more than 10 regional organizations gracing the occasion and dialoguing the future of the continent’s blue economy.
The four-day event, which kicked off on Tuesday, is a moment of pride for the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) and the Government of Liberia (GOL) as they push to regain Liberia’s space among the comity of nations and give the nation its lost voice.
His Excellency President Joseph N. Boakai, who was proxied by his Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Samuel Stevequoah, described the conference, which is being held under the theme, “Safeguarding Our Ocean, Promoting Decarbonization in Shipping and Exploring Africa’s Blue Economy Potential”, as not just timely, but in fact urgent.
Minister Stevequoah observed that Liberia’s maritime program, as many of them knew, is already one of the most successful in the world, but pointed out that it can do more, and that they are determined to do more.
“We are determined to protect our oceans. We are determined to promote clean energy, and we are uncompromising when it comes to cementing our position as a driver of effective maritime program and sustainability in Africa. As an African proverb says, ‘Smooth seas do not necessarily make successful sailing,’ and so Liberia views the association of the African Maritime Administrators not only as a partner, not only as collaborator, but also as leaders in shaping the future of Africa’s blue economy,” Minister Stevequoah stated.
He urged the assembly to be clear about one thing: they should leave from the conference with a determination to do more for their respective countries. “This assembly must be much more than a dialogue; it must lead to concrete actions, including roadmaps for decarbonization. It must also come up with strategies for combating illegal fishing. And at the end of the assembly, we would like to see you come up with frameworks that will ensure that our young people are trained,” he emphasized.
President Boakai’s proxy then declared that Liberia is seeking re-election to Category “A” Council Seat of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as the only African country in that category. However, he said they do not see the seat as one for Liberia alone, but as Africa’s voice at the global table. He rallied for the stakeholders’ support, which he said would send a strong and unified message to the world that Africa is serious, united and ready to lead in the maritime affairs of the world.
Earlier, the Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe, Sr., officially welcomed the delegations to the Republic of Liberia, and expressed sincere delight to have them all in Liberia attending the 8th Annual Conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA).
Commissioner Lighe said, despite Liberia’s longstanding history in shipping and global maritime governance and leadership, this is the first time Liberia is hosting the annual meeting of a major regional or continental maritime organization or association. According to him, this speaks to how proud the people of Liberia are to have the various delegations visiting Liberia, and expressed confidence that their expertise and experience will greatly enrich the discussions and deliberations over the coming days.
In his official remarks, the Liberia maritime boss observed that the 8th AAMA gathering is being held at a time when Africa’s maritime sector is confronted with many challenges, which include but not limited to piracy, geopolitical tensions, infrastructure deficits, environmental degradation and regulatory gaps. He said while these challenges are not insurmountable, what is clear is that they transcend national boundaries and no country can solitarily address them within its institutional and jurisdictional limits, noting that they are shared challenges and addressing them requires pooling together their resources, expertise and knowledge.
He pointed out that AAMA provides the institutional framework for collaboration and cooperation in tackling these shared challenges as a continent and establishing Africa as an enviable maritime powerhouse.
Commissioner Lighe disclosed that the Liberia Maritime Authority is currently implementing a 5-year strategic plan that seeks to position the maritime sector of Liberia as a pathway to sustainable growth and development. He said the plan provides the roadmap for developing new business streams such as ship demolition and recycling, seafaring, bunkering, ecotourism, and expanding the domestic maritime sector.
“This plan also seeks to ensure a vibrant maritime sector by prioritizing the safety and security of our seaports, the jurisdictional waters of Liberia and other critical maritime infrastructures. For our private sector partners here present, we are looking forward to working with you in some of these new maritime investments through private-public partnerships and other mechanisms,” he stated.
He underscored the need for the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) and other continental and regional organizations to collaborate more with the African Union (AU) on the maritime transport component of the blue economy. This is crucial and needs urgent attention.
Several other regional and international maritime stakeholders, including the Chairman of AAMA, leaders of the maritime authorities of Nigeria, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, made remarks at the opening of the event, with the Representative of US Embassy’s Political and Economic Section describing Liberia as a giant in the global maritime sector. They all called for collective effort in tackling the challenges of the maritime sector.
The event continues today, with stakeholders engaging in dialogue and panel discussions. The event is expected to conclude on Friday, October 3, 2025.