MONROVIA: The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Madam Emma Metieh Glassco, has disclosed Liberia’s readiness to host the 15th Ministerial Conference of the Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) in Monrovia.
“Liberia is ready to host the 15th Ministerial Conference of the Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) in Monrovia from 11-13, December 2024,”the NaFFA Boss said.
She made the disclosure on State Radio, ELBC, on Monday, December 2, 2024, during a simulcast on several top Radio and online Television Stations.
The stations included Spoon FM and all its networks, Prime FM/TV, Truth FM/TV, Kool FM/TV, Okay FM/TV, Freedom FM/TV, Bana FM/TV, Voice of Liberia FM/TV, SKY FM/TV, Punch FM/TV and Red Power FM/TV among other entities.
Madam Glassco stated that the Liberian Fisheries Authority is following clear instruction from the office of President Joseph Boakai, to go ahead with preparations in hosting a successful international fisheries conference in Monrovia.
“During the conference, Liberia will play host to several international fisheries delegates including the Fisheries Ministers of Benin, Togo, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria, along with their technicians.”
Madam Glassco noted that others expected to arrive in Liberia for the three-day international conference include Heads of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations/Bodies, International Fisheries-related Institutions, and International Observers.
She mentioned among other things, that at the three-day Ministerial Conference, there will be two -days of technical working sessions at the Mamba Point Hotel in Monrovia from December 11-12, 2024, and a one-day concluding session at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
“The conference marks a historic occasion for the Liberian fisheries sector, as Liberia, through the fisheries authority, will assume the Chairmanship position from Ghana as the main driver of fisheries policies and good governance within the subregion.
Moreover, Madam Glassco noted that another cardinal thing that would come out of the three-day International Fisheries Conference is the “Monrovia Declaration” to honor the host country.
As part of the Monrovia Declaration, member states would carry out joint fisheries patrols and operate a joint closed fisheries season.
The Liberian Fisheries DG disclosed that during the simulcast that the Government of Liberia, through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) is honored to host this auspicious International Fisheries Conference which has the potential to expose the fisheries sector to investment opportunities.
The Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) is a regional fisheries organization with a membership of six West African countries:
Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo. The Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) was established in 2007.
This is to facilitate cooperation in fisheries management among member countries.
The countries have several shared fish stocks and identified a need for cooperation and shared management of these resources.
