Managers urge port authorities to consider security and commercial interests

The Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) has called on port authorities in member countries to come out with legislations to take national security and commercial interest into consideration.

Mr Jacob Adorkor, Director of the Tema Port made the call at the end of mid-term meetings of the technical committees of the PMAWCA in Tema.

Mr Adorkor stressed the need for member countries to harmonise statistics at the ports in their various countries.

During the four-day meetings the delegates broke into committee sessions and brainstormed on maritime security, environmental protection and operations, technical studies, infrastructure and development, among other deliberations.

Mr Michael Luguje, Secretary General of the Association, said it would focus on three strategies – development of policy guidelines; promoting technical partnerships for capacity building and knowledge sharing; and internal self-help schemes among members.

The PMAWCA is a sub-regional inter-governmental economic organisation comprising 22 regular member ports and nine associate members, including the landlocked countries and maritime organisations, all located along the West coast of Africa.

The Association also has observer members located in Europe. Its membership comes from the Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries with its headquarters in Lagos. It is headed by a Secretary General who is elected every four years and whose mandate is renewable only once.

The prime objectives of the Association include fostering cooperation, exchanging expertise, experience and knowledge among member ports in order to enhance the delivery of effective and efficient port services in their individual countries and the sub-region as a whole.

Source: GNA