MOWCA: Adalikwu resumes as Sec Gen, promises on maritime bank take off early 2022

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The newly elected Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu has resumed at the Secretariat in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Following the final handing over Ceremony at the MOWCA Secretariat on Wednesday, Adalikwu who is the first Nigerian to hold such position promised to actualise the launch of the Regional Maritime Development Bank(RMDB) by the second quarter of 2022.

Nigeria’s Dr. Paul Adalikwu has today, Wednesday December 8, 2021 officially assumed the role of Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), following the final handing over Ceremony at the MOWCA Secretariat Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

In his post inauguration speech, the new Secretary-General expressed gratitude to the Chairman and Government of Ghana for successfully hosting the Extraordinary Session in Accra.

Adalikwu extended his immense gratitude to the outgoing Secretary General, Angola Alain Michel Luvambano for making out time to attend the handing over Ceremony while urging him to continue to avail the organisation with his wealth of experience.

The Secretary General acknowledged the role of maritime trade to global economy, promised that during his tenure, he will work towards a revolutionary turn around in commercial activities in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) area in a safe and secured maritime environment leveraging on Nigeria’s success with the Deep Blue security architecture.

According to him, Africa is so endowed to have a positive impact on trading activities within its maritime domain.

He called on member States to ensure regular payments of their statutory dues to enable the Organisation achieve its set goals and objectives.

Minister of Transport of Ghana and Chairman of MOWCA, Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah thanked the Government of Cote d’Ivoire for her continuous support to MOWCA and the former Secretary-General for honouring the invitation.

He recalled that the handing over exercise was the climax of a process that started at the 8th Bureau of Ministers and the 15th General Assembly held in Congo Kinshasa and concluded at the 16th Extraordinary Session held in Accra, Ghana in November, 2021.

He reminded the new Secretary-General of the enormity of task ahead which can only be achieved when member States comply with their obligation of paying their dues regularly.

The outgoing Secretary General Luvambano commended Ghana for the process that led to the final election of the new Secretary-General and informed that it was indeed the desire of the Organisation for Nigeria to produce the Secretary-General. He pledge his unalloyed support and cooperation to the new headship of MOWCA.

The brief handing over Ceremony was witnessed by the Nigerian Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire and the representative of the Minister of Transport of Cote d’Ivoire.

Other events at the ceremony included handing over of the records and symbols of the Organisation, signing of the handing over documents, group photographs and physical facility inspection of the Secretariat complex.

As the duties demand, the Secretary General shall have the duty to coordinate the activities of three specialised units: ports, shippers and operators, through the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC) and the African Shippinglines Association (3A), respectively.