The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) has called for stronger regional collaboration among African maritime stakeholders to address emerging challenges in maritime safety, security, decarbonisation and digital transformation.
Secretary General of MOWCA, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, made the call in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Maritime Day celebration in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Adalikwu said the maritime sector was undergoing profound transformation, driven by decarbonisation, digital automation and evolving security threats, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea.
He stressed that no single country or maritime agency could independently secure and optimise the region’s waters, noting that unified regional collaboration remained essential to building a resilient maritime sector.
According to him, the participation of government regulators, port authorities, maritime training institutions, seafarers’ organisations and women in maritime bodies was critical to achieving sustainable growth across the region.
He identified the Ministry and Directorate General of Maritime Affairs as key to providing the regulatory frameworks required to keep maritime operations safe, secure and legally compliant, while describing the Abidjan and San-Pedro Port Authorities as vital gateways driving trade efficiency within Côte d’Ivoire and the wider sub-region.
The SG also highlighted the importance of maritime education and training, describing the Regional Academy of Science and Technology of the Seas (ARSTM), alongside the Regional Maritime University in Accra, as important institutions for developing professionals equipped for the sector’s rapidly changing technological environment.
On seafarers, Adalikwu said the resilience of men and women working at sea remained central to the functioning of global supply chains, reaffirming MOWCA’s commitment to their welfare, safety and fair labour conditions.
He equally called for greater participation of women in maritime leadership, stressing that sustainable development could not be achieved by excluding a significant part of the sector’s talent pool.
Adalikwu said MOWCA’s mandate to harmonise maritime policies across its 25 member states aligned with the priorities being discussed at the World Maritime Day celebration, including standardised training, improved port efficiency, marine environmental protection and integrated maritime security.
He urged participants to approach the discussions as “co-architects” of a safer, greener and more prosperous African maritime domain.
The MOWCA Secretary General expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Côte d’Ivoire, particularly the Ministry of Transport and Marine Affairs, for hosting the celebration and supporting regional maritime cooperation.
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