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Kwaku Asiamah made history by becoming the first Ghanaian president of OMAOC
Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah made history Thursday, July 29, 2021 by becoming the first Ghanaian to be elected president of the prestigious Maritime Organization for West and Central Africa (OMAOC).
He succeeds Khouraichi Thiam of the Republic of Senegal.
The historic election took place during the 8th Bureau of Ministers and 15th General Assembly of the OMAFC held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
His Excellency Bai Lamin Jobe, Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure of The Gambia became the First Vice-President while the Minister in charge of Transport and Sea in the Republic of Congo became the Second Vice-President.
The Central African Republic was also elected rapporteur.
After his election, Mr. Asiamah is expected to oversee the affairs of the 46-year-old organization which is made up of twenty-five (25) countries.
One of the main challenges he must face upon taking office is the election of a secretary general, the Kinshasa conference not having succeeded in electing one following the confirmation of the end of Mr. Alaine Michelle Luvambano.
Mr. Luvambano was Secretary General of OMAOC from 2011 to 2021. He was mandated to move as soon as possible to an Acting Secretary General. The OMAOC rules and procedures provide that the post of Secretary General is held for a term of four years and renewable once for four years.
It is expected that a new Secretary General will emerge at an extraordinary meeting which is expected to be convened by Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah within the next six months to lead the day-to-day activities of the organization.
The Maritime Organization for West and Central Africa (OMAOC) was created in 1975 (Abidjan Charter) as the Ministerial Conference of West and Central African States on transport maritime (MINCONMAR). The name was changed to MOWCA as part of the reforms adopted by the General Assembly of Transport Ministers, during an extraordinary session of the Organization held in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, from August 4 to 6. 1999.
The objective of the OMAOC is to serve the regional and international community to deal with all maritime issues of a regional nature.
The OMAOC unites 25 countries of the maritime zone of West and Central Africa, including five landlocked countries. These countries include 20 coastal states bordering the North and South Atlantic Ocean, and to explain the maritime link for the landlocked countries, the ports of the ocean interface countries ensure the maritime trade of those which are landlocked.
At the Kinshasa conference, the organization of 25 member countries discussed how best to harness their potential for member states and regional economic growth, even in the face of a devastating COVID-19 pandemic.
Countries were unanimous in forging a stronger front for enhanced maritime security while examining issues relating to the creation of a regional maritime development bank to facilitate access to finance for maritime assets and infrastructure.
The Ghana delegation to the Kinshasa conference was led by Ag. Director General at the Ministry of Transport, Ms. Mabel Sagoe, who received the office staff on behalf of Mr. Asiamah.
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