The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) began the 15th Session of its Conference of Ministers (CoM) under the auspices of Liberia’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) on 11 December 2024 at the Mamba Point Hotel in Monrovia, Liberia.
The 15th Session of the CoM began with the two-day Advisory and Coordinating Committee (ACC) meeting, a session that brings together one of the FCWC’s three organs to advance the activities of the organization in regional fisheries cooperation. The ACC comprises the head of national fisheries administration or their representative. The ACC oversees the activities of the Secretariat; makes recommendations to the Conference of Ministers; provides technical and scientific advice to the COM, and advises the Secretary-General on the implementation of decisions taken by the COM.
The first day featured welcome remarks delivered by NaFAA’s Deputy Director General, William Y. Boeh, on behalf of NaFAA’s Director-General, Hon. Emma Glassco. She stated that by assuming the FCWC Chairmanship Liberia demonstrates her unwavering commitment to fisheries regional leadership and collaboration, and will serve as a hub for these critical discussions. She thanked Liberia’s President, H.E. Joseph Boakai for making this event possible, and all partners and stakeholders for their contributions which have amplified “our ability to achieve impactful outcomes.”
FCWC Secretary Dr. Gaston Antoine Djihinto in his introductory remarks, thanked the Directors of Fisheries, all technical and financial partners noting that their support, collaboration and commitment are essential pillars that strengthen our common action. He saluted the role of the Director General of NaFAA and all the organizers for their valuable contribution to the success of the event.
The Executive Director of Ghana’s Fisheries Commission, and current ACC Chairperson, Dir. Fred Antwi-Boadu, highlighted the importance of collaboration within the region, noting that it is imperative for achieving long-term sustainability. He expressed hope that all member countries would join the close season implementation. He commended the FCWC Secretariat for its excellent work and encouraged it to continue strengthening partnerships within the global fisheries community.
The day’s activities included presentations on the FCWC’s 2024 Activity and Financial report; a summary of the 2024 activities, relevant outputs, and future workplan of the West Africa Task Force; the roadmap for the Regional Record of Authorized Fishing Vessels (RRAFV); the activities and results of the Global Environment Facility-funded MarEcoPlan project on marine spatial planning; the achievements of the Improving Fisheries Governance in Ghana and the Wider Subregion (IFG) Project; the Implementation of Closed Season by the USAID’s Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity (GFRA); and the objectives and components of the Promotion of Sustainable Aquaculture and Competitiveness of Fisheries Value Chains (PROMAC) project.
The ACC session will conclude on 12 December 2024 with the adoption of the ACC Meeting Report that will include recommendations, to be taken to the FCWC’s Conference of Ministers on 13 December 2024 for adoption.
