February - March, 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
18 March, 2008 ... Another GEM Departs
Sensitization and Information on the
Abidjan Convention and IGCC.
Tribute to the Memory of
Between 18 and 19 March, 2008, Benin organized a National
Dr. Théodore Djama
Workshop on Sensitization and Information on the Abidjan
Convention and the Guinea Current Large Marin Ecosystem
B y
Project (GCLME). The Workshop was attended by
S t a f f o f T h e E x e c u t i v e S e c r e t a r i a t,
representatives from Ministries, Associations of Fishermen,
I G C C
Women Fish Wholesale Dealers and various structures
"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely
intervening in the coastal area of Benin.
players; They have their exits and their entrances; ...."
The Minister of Environment and Protection of Nature
Shakespeare in "As You Like It"
(MEPN), Benin, Madam Juliette Biao Koudonoukpo chaired
the Opening Ceremony of the Workshop.
he IGCC was informed of
Tthe sudden death of our former
colleague and friend, Dr.
Benin Minister of
Théodore Djama at the Kribi
Environment and
District Hospital, Cameroon,
Protection of Na-
on 18 March, 2008.
ture, HE Madam
Dr. Djama served as Fisheries
Juliette Biao
Scientist at the Executive
Koudonoukpo.
Secretariat of the IGCC for two
Late Théodore Djama years.
The Staff of the GCLME Project mourns with the
berieved family and scientific community of Cameroon
for this great loss.
On welcoming participants, the National Director of
Environment, Mrs. Dossou stressed the importance of the
Born on 30 August, 1953, in Sangmelima, Cameroon, Dr.
Workshop in Benin. She affirmed the great importance of
Djama held a Masters Degree and a PhD. in Fisheries
the Project to the coastal areas.
from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. Before
joining the GCLME Programme in 2005, he was head of
Professor Sikirou ADAM, representing the IGCC
the IRAD Station in Limbe, Cameroon. He has authored
Secretariat stressed the effects of pollution and
several scientific publications on fisheries, and represented
environmental degradations. He also indicated these
Cameroon in ICAT (FAO) for many years.
concerns are common to the GCLME countries.
He is survived by his wife, 4 children and 3 grand
The Minister of Environment and Protection of Nature
children.
(MEPN) gave a summary of pollution sources and other
enviromental degradation causes in Benin. She also indicated
May his soul rest in perfect peace !
the remedy actions undertaken by the government so far.
I G C C N e w s l e t t e r Page 2
February - March, 2008
On this note, she exhorted
UNIDO PTC/ECB Technical Mission
participants to also
to the GCLME RCU, Accra.
explore alternative means
which could help in
preserving the coastal
From 25 to 29 February, 2008, Dr. Pablo Huidobro, Chief
areas.
Water Unit PTC/ECB and Dr. Heinz Leuenberger,
Director, PTC/ECB, both of UNIDO were on technical
During the working
mission to the GCLME RCU, Accra.
sessions, Mr Wabi Marcos,
the National Consultant for
Dr. Huidobro arrived Accra on 25 March and was later joined
pollution recalled the
by Dr. Heinz Leuenberger on 27 March.
major types of pollution in
The obective of their mission was to acquaint themselves
the coastal areas of Benin
with the progress of the GCLME project.
and their sources.
Mr. Marcos updated
Mrs. Bernadette Glehouenou participants with the
Dossou, National Director of l e g a l / r e g u l a t o r y
Environment, Benin address- framework that have been
ing participants.
set so far to prevent/
mitigate pollution from human activities.
Professor Sikirou Adam recalled the origin of the project and
pointed out the achievements of the project which include:
-
reinforcement of the capacities through the trainings of
national experts in each member state of the project; and,
-
realization of the coastal profile of each of the 16 Member
States;
L-R : Dr. Heinz Leuenberger, Hon, Kwadwo Adjei-
-
realization of a regional Transboundary Diagnosis Analysis
Darko, Minister of Local Government, Rural De-
-
realization of a regional Strategic Action Plan
velopment and Environment, Ghana and Dr. Pablo
Huidobro.
-
preparation of National Programmes of action
Activities that were carried out during their mission include:
-
Presentation of the GCLME project : Status of
L-R: HE Madam
implementation including Finance/ Budget
Juliette Biao
-
Briefing on : Regional Activity Centers and Regional
Koudonoukpo. and the
Demo Projects by responsible experts
Deputy Minister of
Habitat, Housing, For-
-
Briefing by National / Regional Experts
estry Reform &
-
Meeting with Staff of IGCC - Individual Staff
Coastal Erosion.
Presentations according to Job Description
-
Visit to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural
Development and Environment - Meeting with the
Minister, Hon. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko
-
Visit to Project Institutions (Legon, Water Research
Institute etc.)
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
February - March, 2008
L-R: Mr. J. Ndubuisi,
ICT Officer, Dr. J. Abe,
Env. Scientist, Ms. S. Yawson,
Prog. Asst. to the Reg. Marine Prod.
and Biodiversity Centre during the working ses-
sion at the RCU. Regional Marine Productivity and
Dr. Heinz Leuenberger, Dr. Pablo Huidobro and Dr.
Biodiversity Centre, during the visit to the Centre.
George Wiafe, Coordinator of the GCLME Regional
Marine Productivity and Biodiversity Centre, dur-
L-R: Mr. N.
ing the visit to the Centre.
Gbolonyo, Admin.
Officer and Mr. S.
Following presentation on Protection of Coastal Areas, by
Quaatey, GCLME
the of the GCLME Regional Consultant on Erosion, Engr.
National Fisheries
George Nai, he led Mr. Huidobro and Dr. Leuenberger to
Expert in Ghana
assess the coastal protected site at Labadi in Accra.
also at the working
session with Mr.
Chabason.
While in Accra, Mr. Chabason had working sessions with the
staff of the IGCC Secretariat,Consultations with Members of
National Steering Committee, Ghana and also with the UNDO
Representative, Mr. Antonio Levissianos.
Dr. leuenberger, Dr. Huidobro, and Dr. J. Abe being
briefed by Engr. Nai. (2nd from right).
The GCLME Project
Mid-Term Evaluation Exercise
The first leg of GCLME Mid-Term Evaluation exercise
The MTE Consultant meeting with members of the
took place between 22 March and 01 April, 2008. Mr.
GCLME National Steering Committee in Ghana.
Lucien Chabason who is the Evaluator from UNEP arrived
Accra on 22 March and commenced work at the GCLME
RCU on 23 March where he was welcomed by Dr. Jacques
Abe, the Environment Scientist of the project.
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
February - March, 2008
Mr. Chabason visited the GCLME Regional Marine
Productivity & Biodiversity Centre, located in the
Department of Oceanography and Fisheries at the University
of Ghana, Legon, and also, the Water Research Institute,
(Pollution Monitoring Project) in Accra.
Mr. Chabason, MTE
consultant and Dr.
George Wiafe,
GCLME Regional
Expert on Produc-
tivity at the Re-
gional Activity
Centre's Labora-
Mr. Julien Chabason, MTE consultant with Dr.
tory.
Peter Nwilo, Coordinator of the Regional Cen-
tre for EIMS.
Group picture of the MTE consultant with Nigerian
Consultants
Mr. Chabason, MTE consultant during a Working
session with Scientists of Water Research Insti-
tute, Accra, Ghana.
Upcoming Events!
The evaluation exercise in Accra, Ghana ended on 26 March
as the Evaluator continued to Benin where he interacted
- 29 April- 2 May, 2008: IMO/UNIDO/ IGCC Regional
with stakeholders to the GCLME Project.
Workshop on the Implementation of the MARPOL
Convention with focus on the revised Annex II and the
The exercise was also extended to Lagos, Nigeria where
amended IBC Code; RCU, Accra, Ghana,
Mr. Chabason had working sessions with some of the
Project's consultants and a representative of the GCLME
- 13 - 16 May, 2008: Group of Experts on the Scientific
Focal point at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban
Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP);
Development, Mr. Mr. E.O. William.
RCU, Accra, Ghana.
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