Equatorial Guinea pledges continued support for MOWCA’s blue economy drive

By Ezurike Ugochukwu 

The Government of Equatorial Guinea has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) in advancing a sustainable blue economy and strengthening maritime development across the African continent.

The country’s Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Postal Services, Evito Oma, made this known on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in Malabo while receiving the Secretary-General of MOWCA, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, assuring that Equatorial Guinea would continue to align with the organisation’s objectives and programmes to promote maritime safety, security and trade facilitation in the West and Central African sub-region.

Mr Oma who commended Dr Paul Adalikwu’s visionary leadership of MOWCA, disclosed expressed support for enhanced technical collaboration between MOWCA and his Ministry for the benefit of his country. The minister also spoke on maritime trade facilitation within West and Central Africa.

Oma added that the country will sustain it’s collaboration with MOWCA to advance maritime safety, security, and sustainable maritime transport across the West and Central African sub-region.

Speaking earlier, Dr Adalikwu described the Republic of Equatorial Guinea as a strategic country, naturally endowed to be a key player in the African maritime space.

He praised the government for it’s robust performance in the oil and gas sector and commercial shipping through her key ports despite a few surmountable security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to Dr Adalikwu, Equatorial Guinea remains a significant offshore hydrocarbon producer in Sub Saharan Africa whose participation in maritime trade is a significant contribution to Africa’s blue economy activities and development. The MOWCA SG also praised the country for its assured increasing participation in the organisation’s programmes and decision making processes.

While briefing Oma on MOWCA’s activities and future programmes, Adalikwu told the minister that the country stands to benefit from the maritime human capital development programmes backed by other international bodies like the African Development Bank (AfDB), Governments of Singapore, Malaysia and more.

The MOWCA SG added that the country stands to be first line beneficiary from the Regional Maritime Development Bank for vessel financing and maritime infrastructure expansion, upgrade or development. Both parties ended the meeting with a strong commitment to strengthen cooperation between them.