Monrovia-Liberia-Fisheries Directors and Technicians from Member Countries of the Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) along with several Partners and Donors gathered in the Liberian Capital Monrovia Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at a local hotel to mark the official start of 15th Ministerial Fisheries Conference. The three-day FCWC conference runs from 11-13 December 2024 with two days of technical discussions, leading to the Ministerial meeting on the third day Friday, December 13, 2024, at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town outside Monrovia.
Welcoming visitors from Africa, Europe, and other parts of the World to Liberia, the Deputy Director General for Technical Services of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, Hon. William Y. Boeh disclosed that the conference offers an opportunity to forge what he termed as actionable strategies and foster deeper regional collaboration.
Hon. Boeh also stated that the event is a defining moment for Liberia as a host Country expected to assume the FCWC chairmanship. He therefore stated that as Chair, Liberia will demonstrate its unwavering commitment to regional leadership and collaboration.
“this event is a defining moment for Liberia. By assuming the FCWC Chairmanship, we demonstrate our unwavering commitment to regional leadership and collaboration. We are honored to serve as a hub for these critical discussions and to work with our fellow member states to drive meaningful progress”.
Commenting on the composition of the delegates at the conference, Hon. Boeh pointed out that the conference has brought together an extraordinary assembly of regional leaders, technical experts, policymakers, and partners dedicated to safeguarding one of the most vital resources, ‘the Fisheries West Central Gulf of Guinea.
Additionally, the Liberian Fisheries Authority Deputy Director General for Technical Services who spoke on behalf of the Director General Hon. Emma Metieh Glassco disclosed that the Fisheries West Central Gulf of Guinea is faced with challenges that threaten food security. He named overfishing, illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing (IUU), climate change, and governance gaps as some of the many challenges facing the region.
Declaring the 15th Ministerial Conference open in Monrovia, the Executive Director of Ghana Fisheries Commission and Chairman of the Advisory and Coordinating, Committee, Mr. Fred Antwi-Boadu said the meeting provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the necessary steps for strengthening cooperation among the six member countries of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC).
“Our focus is to promote decent work and sustainable practices within the fisheries sector while strengthening the resilience of our marine ecosystems. These objectives go hand in hand, with our oceans’ health and directly impact our people’s prosperity. By taking a comprehensive approach emphasizing sustainability and equity, we can ensure that our marine resources continue supporting future generations”.
Mr. Antwi-Boadu also noted that the fisheries sector in West Africa holds enormous economic, social, and environmental significance and It provides livelihoods for millions, supports our food security, and contributes to the regional economy.
Also speaking, at the start of the two-day technical session of the FCWC preceding the 15th Ministerial conference, the Secretary-General indicated that the challenges facing the fishing sector in the region are multiple and complex thus simultaneously affecting the economy, the social well-being of the communities, and the preservation of the marine ecosystems.
“These issues do not only concern the present but also engage our responsibility towards future generations”.
Mr. Antoine Gaston Djihinto thus noted that these challenges should give rise to building an integrated, responsible, and sustainable governance of fisheries resources. He added that governance must combine rational exploitation and conservation of resources while offering equitable social and economic benefits for
our populations.
Meanwhile, the FCWC Secretary-General added that the session of the Advisory and Coordinating Committee represents a valuable opportunity to engage in dialogue, analyze regional issues, and propose concrete solutions.
“I am confident that your informed contributions, informed by your respective expertise, will help formulate solid and pragmatic recommendations to be submitted to the Conference of Ministers”.
