DAR ES-SAALAM, TANZANIA: At the close of the 7th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA), the Republic of Liberia was unanimously nominated by the Conference to host the 8th AAMA Conference in October 2025, while Ghana is to host the 9th AAMA Conference in 2026.
The just concluded 7th General Assembly has decided to now host the General Assembly biennially while the Conference annually.
According to a dispatch from the Liberian Maritime delegation in Tanzania, the 7th AAMA Conference and General Assembly, which brought together 48 African countries and more than 10 regional organizations, was held by the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization(IMO) under the theme: “Navigating the Future of Africa’s Maritime Sector: Collaborating on Technology and Innovation to Enhance Safety, Security, Decarbonization and Marine Environment for a Sustainable Future” with the view of unleashing and harnessing the continent’s maritime potentials.
The Dispatch said the Conference deliberated why the transition to decarbonize international shipping needs to be ‘just and equitable,’ considering the potential impacts and opportunities that IMO adopted GHG reduction measures may have on Africa economies, including that on food security.
It was also decided to appreciate the benefits that may accrue to African countries in terms of capacity building, infrastructural development, and technology transfers.
Furthermore, the Conference stressed the need for gender diversity and inclusivity in the maritime sector and called for greater women participation at all levels; robust implementation of maritime single windows to facilitate maritime trade and commerce within Africa; the need for a sustainable financing framework to accelerate the financing and development of maritime projects within Africa amongst others.
Ambassador Robert Wilmot Kpadeh, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) who led the Liberian delegation to the 7th AAMA Conference told newsmen in Dar Es Saalam that nomination of Liberia to host the 8th AAMA Conference presents a great opportunity for Liberia to showcase its blue economy and tourism potentials, and also serve as an important platform to project Liberia’s re-election bid to Category-A on the IMO Council to the global maritime industry.
” I am profoundly pleased that Liberia is regaining its recognition in the International community,” he stated.
About 45 African states and several regional and international organizations to include the International Maritime Organization, European Union, African Development Bank, International Shippers Union, and Industry leaders are expected to honor the Monrovia-AAMA Conference.
At same time, Liberia’s Maritime Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe, has embraced the news with immense incitement and promised to ensure that Liberia offers great hospitality to member states and organizations that will be in attendance.
He said the Liberian Maritime Authority will seize the opportunity to showcase Liberia’s vast maritime and tourism potentials to the rest of the world.
He thanked Ambassador Kpadeh and the entire Liberian delegation in Dar Es Saalam, Tanzania, for the able representation which has yielded credible results for the nation as a whole.
