By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
At the close of the 7th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA), Liberia was unanimously nominated by the Conference to host the 8th AAMA Conference in October 2025.
Delegates also nominated Ghana to host the 9th AAMA Conference and 8th General Assembly in 2026.
The just concluded 7th General Assembly has decided to now host the General Assembly biennially while the Conference annually.
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.
It was held 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 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.
Maritime Commissioner Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr.
At same time, Liberia’s Maritime Commissioner and CEO Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr. 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.
In a dispatched issued from Dar Es Saalam, Tanzania, Cllr. Lighe said the Liberian Maritime Authority will seize on the opportunity to showcase Liberia’s vast maritime and tourism potentials to the rest of the world.
He thanked Amb. Kpadeh and the entire Liberian delegation in Dar Es Saalam for the able representation which has yielded credible result for the nation as a world.
