Dr. Paul Adalikwu, the Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), is actively seeking US government support to remove restrictions placed on certain member countries accused of engaging in illicit shipping activities.
Leading a delegation from the MOWCA Secretariat to the US Embassy in Abidjan for initial strategic discussions, Dr. Adalikwu aims to facilitate the smooth participation of MOWCA countries in global maritime trade.
He reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to upholding the highest ethical and legal standards in maritime operations.
In talks with the US Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, H.E Mrs. Jessica Davis Ba, Dr. Adalikwu stressed MOWCA’s interest in promoting the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code to enhance vessel and port security.
He emphasized MOWCA’s dedication to promoting environmentally friendly, safe, and cost-effective shipping practices that support the economic growth of member countries.
Dr. Adalikwu highlighted MOWCA’s involvement in the 2023 Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC) Conference in Larnaca, Cyprus, and a virtual meeting with Mrs. Jennifer Chalmers from the US Department of State.
He also mentioned US DOS’s support for MOWCA’s maritime security efforts through the establishment of the Center for Information and Communication (CINFOCOM) to enhance maritime situational awareness in member states’ waters.
CINFOCOM aims to combat transnational crimes at sea, including sanctions evasion, money laundering, arms and drug trafficking, piracy, illegal oil bunkering, maritime terrorism, human trafficking, human smuggling, and monitoring asylum seekers traveling by sea in the West and Central African region.
In response, the US Ambassador highlighted the Maritime Law Enforcement Agreement signed in Abidjan to facilitate cooperative maritime law enforcement activities.
She requested a list of active MOWCA member states, including landlocked countries, for better identification and advised sharing a prioritized list of expectations with the Embassy’s Political and Economic Officer.
Under Dr. Adalikwu’s leadership, MOWCA has strengthened collaboration with global maritime stakeholders to support member countries’ economies and pave the way for MOWCA’s transformation into a continent-wide African Maritime Organization (AMO).
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