ON TUESDAY, THE 8th Annual Conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) a four-day event, 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 occasion 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.