August, 2007
Edition
h t t p : / / w w w . g c l m e . o r go r g
ANGOLA - BENIN - CAMEROON - CONGO - CÔTE D'IVOIRE - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - EQUATORIAL GUINEA - GABON - GHANA - GUINEA - GUINEA BISSAU - LIBERIA - NIGERIA - SAO TOME & PRINCIPE - SIERRA LEONE - TOGO
ES/RD's Visit to the New Minister in
2nd IGCC/UNIDO/IMO/IPIECA Meeting of
charge of Environment in Ghana
the Technical Advisory Group on Development
of Sub-Regional Contingency Plans and Sub-
On 25 August 2007,the Executive Secretary and Regional
Regional Agreements for Co-operation in
Director, Prof. Ibe visited the new Ghanaian Minister
Cases of Major Marine Pollution Incidents,
for Local Government in charge of Environment.
Ghana, 20-22 August 2007
Prof. Ibe congratulated the Minister on his appointment
to the new office and pledged the support of the IGCC
for mutual benefit.
He introduced the GCLME project to the Minister and
the evolution from project to Commission and urged
the Minister to follow up with the process of implantation
of the IGCC in Ghana
He further briefed the Minister about the responsibilities
of his Ministry as host Ministry to the IGCC and the
GCLME project and informed him about the UNIDO
Director General's planned mission to Ghana at a date
to be agreed upon.
The Minister was also informed of the principal objective
of the DG's mission which is to discuss with the
The High Table at the Opening Ceremony. L-R: Dr. Chika Ukwe
President, an initiative on Biofuels on a continent wide
(UNIDO), Capt. A. O. Turkson, Principal, Regional Maritime Acad-
basis with prority focus on Ghana and secondly, to
emy, Ghana and Chair of the Ceremony, Hon. Prof. Christopher
personally deliver to the President his letter of invitation
Ameyaw-Akumfi, Min. Harbours and Railways, Prof. Chidi Ibe, Exec.
as the Guest of Honour to the next General Conference
Sec., IGCC/Reg. Dir., GCLME, Mr. M. Thiam, Tech.Off., Marine Env.
Division of IMO and Philippe de Susanne of IPIECA.
of UNIDO.
The week of 20-22 August was dedicated to the Second Meeting
of the Tehnical Advisory Group on the Development of sub-
regional contingency plans and sub-regional agreements for co-
operation in cases of major marine pollution incidents. The Meeting
which was held at the Kenneth Sherman Conference Hall of the
IGCC was organized by the IGCC in collaboration with UNIDO,
IMO and IPIECA.
The Meeting was organized back-to-back with the Meeting on
the Revision of the Emergency Protocol to the Abidjan Convention,
which was held at the same venue from 23 to 24 April 2007. Its
main objectives were to finalize the draft sub-regional plan, the
draft agreement for co-operation in cases of emergency, the draft
terms of reference for the sub-regional center and other related
documents.
Prof. Ibe in a handshake with Mr. Adjei-Darko.
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August, 2007
S P E E C H G A L O R E ! ! !
Hon. Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister for
Harbours and Railways revealed that matters of the
Capt. A. O. Turkson urged participants to pay particular
environment are very dear to his heart.
attention to carrying out regular drills and simulation
exercises to facilitate the implementation of the Sub-
regional Contingency Plan.
Prof. Ibe welcomed all delegates to the two important Meet-
ings and thanked them for their continued interest and sup-
Mr. Malamine Thiam, Technical Officer, Marine Envi-
port for regional activities being implemented from the van-
ronment Division of IMO, speaking on behalf of Mr.
tage platform of the IGCC.
Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary-General of IMO, wel-
comed the participants to the meeting and also pledged
the support of IMO.
Dr. Chika Ukwe, speaking on behalf of the UNIDO
Director General, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella stressed the
need to adopt plans that could be activated in case
of any oil related incident and said he would
recrommend the plans to UNIDO for implementa-
tion.
C o p y r i g h t , I G C C , 2 0 0 7
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August, 2007
The Meeting attracted participants from all the Guinea
F L A S H B A C K ! ! !
Current Large Marine Ecosystem countries as nominated
by their National Project Directors and national maritime
Guest Lecture on MAritime Safety
Authorities. With a view to facilitating the future
participation of all countries covered by the Abidjan
Convention, the Meeting was also attended by relevant
international organizations and ministries in the other
countries of West and Central Africa, including South
Africa.
Hon. Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister for
Harbours and Railways officially opened the Meeting. He
noted that the meetings were being held at a time when
maritime safety and the protection of the marine
environment were receiving renewed attention and active
support from all countries. He applauded the collaboration
between the IGCC,UNIDO, IMO and IPIECA to address
concerns relating to the development of regional
L-R on the High table are: Capt. Turkson, Principal - Maritime
cooperation in cases of major marine pollution incidents
Academy, Mr. Phillip Lukuley from Sierra Leoneand Prof. Chidi Ibe.
within the Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem
On 7 June, 2007 Prof. Chidi Ibe honoured an invitation from
(GCLME) region in West and Central Africa.
the Ministry of Harbours and Railways to give a lecture on
Marine Safety at the 39th Board of Governors' Meeting of the
Regional Maritime Academy, Accra, Ghana.
While speaking, Prof. Ibe cautioned that inspite of the safety
regulations and the advanced state of sea-safety practiced by
most maritime interests, the shadow of another maritime
disaster happening is a reality that continues to haunt
mankind.According to him, the reality today is that the Gulf of
Guinea which in its widest extent covers the countries of all
the members countries of the Board of Governors of the Regional
Maritime Academy, is one vast pool of petroleum and gas.
While recalling past catastrophic incidents of plane crash and
sea disasters, Prof. Ibe posed the following questions:
L-R: Dr. Niagne Martin Dibi, Côte d'Ivoire, Dr. Blaise
Efendene, Cameroon and Chidi Nnadi of the Sun News-
papers, Nigeria.
"Is maritime safety an issue? If it is, what should be done?"
Prof. Ibe asked.
C o p y r i g h t , I G C C , 2 0 0 7
I G C C N e w s l e t t e r Page 4
August, 2007
- do we have a dedicated, vigilant and efficient system
that could quickly respond to any accident at sea with
the aim of keeping down to the lowest possible level
the human casualty as well as minimize and take
measures to prevent, mitigate or eliminate danger to
property and the environment?
- do we have the necessary preparedness for an in-depth
analysis of the risk of maritime emergencies, and the
identification of the structures best-suited to manage
the response to ensure timely and efficient deployment
of resources?
- have our respective Governments and Maritime
Authorities devoted attention to the training of
L-R: Mr. Napoleon Gbolonyo and Dr. Jacques Abe of IGCC.
personnel likely to be involved and the testing of the
Directly behind Dr. Abe is Capt. Georgina Jopap-Tackie,
response system through exercises?
Maritime Consultant.
Prof Ibe concluded by stating that it is expected that the sub
region would be better placed to intervene jointly in cases of
major maritime accidents either in the territorial waters of a
single nation or in cases of a transboundary nature affecting more
than one nation.
He hoped that the ability to deal with such eventualities would
be greatly enhanced by the member countries of the Sub Region
taking steps to ratify International Conventions.
He therefore, urged the Ministers responsible for Maritime Affairs
in the countries of the Sub Region to ratify the relevant
Conventions as well as the respective multilateral Agreements
on the RMRCC and the Sub-Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan.
Cross section of Naval cadets at the lecture
Group photograph of some high level participants.
A Naval Cadet asking question at the end of the
lecture.
Edited by : K e l e c h i I h e m e j e Layout by : J o s h u a O k e c h u k u N d u b u i s i