December, 2007 -January, 2008
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
FROM THE EDITOR
THE FIFTH SESSION OF CECAF SCIENTIFIC SUB-COMMITTEE;
CASABLANCA, MOROCCO, 4 - 6 DECEMBER 2007
The Executive Secretariat of the Interim Guinea Current
Commission extend their warm greetings and best wishes for
the year 2008 to our esteemed readers.
This edition and subsequent ones of the IGCC Newsletter will
feature activities in the sixteen project Countries.
The Newsletters will also highlight implementation of the
six ongoing national demonstration projects (Côte d'Ivoire,
Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon).
L-R: Mr. Mendy from Gambia, Mr. Quaatey from Ghana and Mr.
5TH SESSION OF CECAF SCIENTIFIC SUB-COMMITTEE
S. Traore from Guinea Conakry.
MOROCCO, 4 - 6 DECEMBER 2007
The Fifth Session of the Scientific Sub-Committee (SSC) of
In the Area of Management of Fishery Resources, the
the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic
Project has developed a template Management Plan for
(CECAF) was held in Casablanca, Morocco from 4 to 6
Small Pelagic Fishery, Demersal Fishery and Shrimp
Fishery. The Project has also funded two Sub-Regional
December, 2007, hosted by the National Fisheries Research
Workshops on the Management of the Shared Sardinella
Institute (INRH) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine
stocks off Gabon - Angola.
Fisheries. Mr. Samuel Quaatey, Deputy Director (Marine
Research) of the Ministry of Fisheries (MOFI) who represented
Ghana also represented the interest of IGCC/GCLME in his
capacity as the National Fisheries Expert of the IGCC/GCLME.
Mr Quaatey who is also the Chairman of the Small Pelagics
South Working Group (Guinea Bissau - Angola), presented
the results of assessment done by the Group at the Session
and activities undertaken by the IGCC/GCLME during the
intersession.
The Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem (GCLME)
project was presented by Mr. Quaatey. He also presented the
activities undertaken by the Project during the intersession
period to the Sub-Committee. Mr. Quaatey briefly described
the Project's objectives and collaboration activities with FAO
on fisheries resources surveys and related activities.
Mr. Quaatey during his presentation.

---

I G C C N e w s l e t t e r Page 2
December, 2007 - January, 2008
As a way of Building Capacity of local scientists, the Project
organized a series of workshops for scientists in the region. The
Scientific Sub-Committee was informed that at the Ministerial
Meeting of the Project in December 2006 it was agreed to
transform the Project into the Interim Guinea Current
Commission and create Advisory Bodies.
Plans of activities for 2008 of the Project include Training
Workshop on Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management using EwE
software, Workshop on Management of the Shared Sardinella
stocks off Gabon - Angola, Survey Data Analysis in collaboration
with FAO and EAF-Nansen Project.
According to Mr. Quaatey, the fifth Session of CECAF Scientific
Sub-Committee was a success. It is clear from the assessments
done by the various Working Groups that most of the fishery
stocks in the CECAF Region are either overexploited or fully
exploited. There is therefore the need for implementation of
L-R: Mr. M. Thiam, Tech.Off., Marine Env. Division of IMO, M. Redo
Tihote from Gunie Bissau and M. Martin Dibi from Cote d'Ivoire.
recommended management measures for a recovery of the
overexploited fishery resources. The Meeting offered the
opportunity to know the activity of projects in the CECAF
Region and to forster linkages between projects to avoid
duplication of activities. There was also the need for the various
sub-regional fisherybodies in the region to collaborate.
IMO WORKSHOP ON CONTINGENCY PLANNING
POINTE NOIRE, CONGO, 10 - 14 DEC. 2007.
A Regional Workshop on Contingency Planning was organized
by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in Pointe
Noire, Congo from 10-14 December, 2007. Dr. Jacques Abe,
Environment Scientist at the Executive Secretariat represented
the project. During the workshop, the achievements under
standing from left is Philippe de Susanne of IPIECA responding to
the 5 broad Modules of the Guinea Current Large Marine
a question from Mr. Idris Olubola Musa
Ecosystem Project were presented.
REPORTING FROM GHANA
MAMSCO Environmental Consortium
Ltd., Ghana was selected to begin the
seminal actions that will lead to the
practical implementation of Ghana's
Demonstration project. They have been awarded a
subcontract entitled "Definition of the Waste Stock
Exchange Management System in Ghana".
L-R:Mrs. Ichola Rihanath Olga from Benin and Dr.
J. Abe of GCLME during a group working session .
C o p y r i g h t , I G C C , 2 0 0 8

---

I G C C N e w s l e t t e r Page 3
December, 2007 - January, 2008
Field Visit on Evaluation of Possibilities for
3. National Demonstration Project and
Aquaculture Development in the Ghana Central
4. MAMSCO's Activities
Region.
Maintaining contact with Governmental and Non-
On 11 February, 2007, Hon. Steven Asamoah Boateng, the
Governmental Organizations including organized/
then Minister of Local Government and Environment,
informal private sector to facilitate their involvement
together with Hon. R. Quainoo Arthur, the District Chief
in project activities:
Executive Officer of the Mfantsiman District Assembly, Prof.
Chidi Ibe and other experts visited some sites in the Central
Region for evaluation for the possibility of aquaculture
Contacts were made with relevant governmental and non-
development. At the end of the meeting several
governmental organizations during the reporting period. The
recommendations were suggested by the technical team.
Regional and National Workshops offered the grounds for the
National Office to establish contacts with various Ministries,
Departments and Agencies in the country.
Visit to FAO, Rome, by Hon. Daniel Dugan: Deputy
Minister for Fisheries
Relationships between Non-Governmental Organizations such
as Friends of the Earth, City 2000 Youth Action International,
Labone Youth Association and the National Project Office were
From 29 May 2007 the Deputy Minister for Fisheries paid a
strengthened through their participation in National
courtesy visit to FAO on the account of UNIDO to bring
Consultations on Project issues. The Second Regional Training
finality to discussions in Abuja in September 2006 on the
Workshop for NGOs on Integrated and Sustainable Management
advisability or otherwise of the establishment of a sub-
of Coastal and Marine Areas, in March this year also enlightened
commission on Fisheries for IGCC as well as discuss expanded
NGO's on the opportunities existing in connection with
programmatic cooperation between the FAO and IGCC in
participation in the programmes and projects of the integrated
the areas of natural resources management. During his visit
management of the resources, which will be initiated in several
he met several officials of the FAO to deliberate on issues
African countries.
concerned with fisheries of the GCLME region.
Participation in Regional Workshops and Meetings
Liaising with members of the Inter-Ministerial
organized within Reporting Period
Committee with a view to promoting an integrated
approach in project management:
There has been active participation by Ghanaians in all the
regional and national workshops and meetings held since the
Periodic contacts were made with members of the inter-
implementation period of the project.
ministerial committee on issues concerning the organization
of National workshops and Project related activities.
Local organization of project related Conferences/
With the appointment of the new National Director, Mr.
Workshops/ Seminars/Symposia in the country of
Rudolph Sandy Kuuzegh, an Adhoc Committee meeting was
appointment
held on 7th August 2007 at the Environment Sector of the
Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and
Environment. The Agenda for the meeting included;
Two National Workshops and eleven Regional Workshops and
1. Introduction of the new National Project Director to
meetings were organized in Accra. The National Workshops were
members
as follows:
2. Discussion on the reconstitution of the National Steering
Committee
C o p y r i g h t , I G C C , 2 0 0 8

---

I G C C N e w s l e t t e r Page 4
December, 2007 - January, 2008
National Workshop on Coastal Zone Planning &
be considered for integration into the regional SAP (where
Management 16th - 17th November 2006,
this has not already been done). In particular, it is hoped
International Conference Centre, Accra
that such strategic elements will be presented as costed
investment opportunities for inclusion in the investment
portfolios that will be brought to the attention of international
The Objectives were as follows:
stakeholders and development partners during the Donors'
Conference which is expected to be hosted by the African
At the national level;
Development Bank in 2008.
(1) Review of issues in coastal zone management in Ghana
and update them,
The Outcomes were as follows :
(2) Identify what needs to be managed differently through
planning at the national level,
1. Organization of a National Consultation Meeting
(3) Update the 1998 CZM Draft Plan for Ghana and provide
2. An Improved National SAP
a national implementation schedule, and
3. Stakeholders sensitized on the issues in the National
(4) Explore the most appropriate governance mechanism for
SAP, and
the coastal zone.
4. Draft National Programme of Action Document
Validated.
At the district level;
(5) Identify coastal zone planning and implementation hurdles
Signing of Regional Strategic Action
and bottlenecks at theDistrict level,
(6) Identify priority concerns of the Districts and prepare a
The New Minister for Local Government, Hon. Adjei
generic District level coastal management plan,
Darko, also in charge of Environment signed the SAP
(7) Identify and provide sustainable funding mechanisms for
Document on 6th September 2007. The Finalized SAP is
projects in the coastal zone at the district level.
a negotiated policy document which describes policy, legal
and institutional reforms and investments needed to address
the priority problems of a transboundary nature identified
The Outcomes were:
in the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) of the
GCLME Region.
(1) the Update and Adoption of a National Coastal
Management Plan,
(2) Recommendation of Appropriate Overriding Governance
Press Briefing on Environmental Issues
Strategy for the Coastal Zone,
(3) Integrated Coastal Management Plans into Local
The former Minister of Local Government, Rural
Government,
Development and Environment gave a Press Briefing which
(4) identification of Projects and Provision of sustainable
highlighted issues such as
Funding Mechanisms at National and District levels.
· Waste Stock Exchange Management System (WSEMS)
in Ghana
National Consultation on Strategic Action Programme
· Control of Land Based Activities causing the pollution
(SAP) and Validation of Draft National Programme of
Action
of the coastal and marine environment.
· Integrated Coastal Areas Management
The principal objective of the National Consultations was to
· The role of IGCC in the protection of the Environment
tease out strategic elements of the various National Plans to
within the region.
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

---