By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Monrovia – Liberia has made history by hosting, for the first time, the annual meeting of a major continental maritime organization, the 8th Annual Conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA), bringing together maritime leaders from across Africa and beyond to confront the sector’s pressing challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth.
Delivering the keynote address, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr., Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), welcomed delegates and underscored the importance of unity in addressing Africa’s maritime challenges.
“Despite our longstanding history in shipping and global maritime leadership, this is the first time Liberia is hosting such a gathering. This shows how proud we are to have you here, and we are confident your expertise and experience will greatly enrich the deliberations in the coming days,” Lighe said.
He noted that Africa’s maritime sector faces multiple obstacles, including piracy, geopolitical tensions, infrastructure deficits, environmental degradation, and regulatory gaps.
He emphasized that these threats transcend borders and require joint regional solutions rather than isolated national responses.
“These are shared challenges. Addressing them requires us to pool together our resources, expertise and knowledge. AAMA provides the institutional framework for collaboration and cooperation to establish Africa as an enviable maritime powerhouse,” the LiMA Commissioner stressed.
Liberia’s Strategic Maritime Agenda
Lighe used the occasion to unveil Liberia’s five-year strategic plan for transforming the sector into a key driver of sustainable development. The plan targets new business opportunities such as ship demolition and recycling, seafaring, bunkering, ecotourism, and the expansion of the domestic maritime industry.
It also places priority on safety and security across seaports, jurisdictional waters, and other critical maritime infrastructures.
For the private sector, Lighe extended an invitation to explore public-private partnerships, stressing that investment will be crucial to realizing Liberia’s ambitions.
Blue Economy at the Center
Anchoring his remarks on the broader African Union Blue Economy Strategy, Lighe highlighted the transformative potential of Africa’s waters in marine transport, trade, renewable energy, fisheries, tourism, and climate resilience.
He warned, however, that obstacles such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, limited investment, and weak institutional capacity continue to undermine progress.
“Because the blue economy is still evolving, many African countries are still determining the appropriate institutional framework for exploring its opportunities.
While some countries have established separate ministries, others like Liberia are incorporating it under existing agencies. This shows the urgency for continental coordination if Africa is to harness its true potential,” he explained.
He called on AAMA, the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), and other continental institutions to deepen collaboration with the African Union, especially on the maritime transport component of the blue economy.
Liberia as Host
The conference has attracted high-level participants including government officials, diplomats, international maritime stakeholders, and representatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Guests of honor include Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General and CEO of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Commissioner Lighe urged participants to not only use the gathering to strategize on maritime development but also to enjoy Liberia’s hospitality, culture, and warm spirit.
“Hosting this meeting is both an honor and a privilege. I wish you all a productive and enjoyable stay in Liberia. Once again, welcome,” he concluded.
