Fifth Edition
September, 2005
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A N G O L A - BENIN - CAMEROON - CONGO - CÔTE D'IVOIRE - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - EQUATORIAL GUINEA - GABON - GHANA - GUINEA - GUINEA BISSAU - LIBERIA - NIGERIA - SAO TOME & PRINCIPE - SIERRA LEONE - TO G O
F R OM T H E E D I T O R :
Mission to Abidjan / Assinie, Côte d'Ivoire and Libreville, Gabon by the
USACE/GCLME Team : 28 Aug. - 03 Sept., 2005.
The month of September started off with the concluding
At the Assinie Beach,
part of the joint mission of the Teams from the US Army Corps
the Director of one of
of Engineers, and GCLME Project to Abidjan and Assinie,
the hotels narrating
Côte d'Ivoire and Libreville, Gabon. The mission started from
their experiences as
neighbours of the
28 August and ended on 3 September. Members of the Team
erosion site to the
were: Dr. Robert Kennedy, Mrs. Joan Pope and Dr. Joseph
Team.
Gailani from the US Army Corps of Engineers and Dr. Jacques
Abe, Environment Officer, GCLME, Engr. Goerge Nai,
GCLME Regional Consultant on Coastal Erosion and the Edi-
tor, Miss Kelechi Ihemeje. At the Assinie Beach, the team
discovered two hotels (Valtour and Club Méditerranée) that
used to be attractive sites for tourists abandoned partly due
to wash over from the beach while in Gabon buildings at the
The Team in the
presidential areas are threatened by erosion. Still in Gabon, a
frontcourt of
structure that used to be Dialogue Hotel was found aban-
Dialogue Hotel in
doned due to the effect of erosion. The team held discussions
G a b o n
with Government officials who indicated interest in the idea
a b a n d o n e d
because of erosion
of finding Low-Cost Low-Technology Erosion Control Mea-
problems.
sures.
Between 19 and 23 September, the Regional Director,
GCLME accompanied by Dr. Brad Brown, Consultant to US-
NOAA visited Angola for meetings with high level govern-
ment officials including the Deputy Minister for Fisheries,
Dr. Victoria Cristovoa de Barros Neto, Deputy Minister for
Mission of the Regional Director, GCLME to Luanda, Angola : 19 - 23
Environment and Urban Affairs, Mr. Graciano Domingos, the
September, 2005.
Deputy Minister for Petroleum, Mr. Anibal Silva, the Pro-
Rector of the Augustino Neto University, Prof. Esperança
Among the High Level Per-
Costa and the Director General of the Institute of Marine
sonalities the Regional Di-
Research, Dr. Francisca Deldago. All the officials re-assured
rector met during his Visit
to Angola are L -R : Deputy
the Regional Director of the political and technical support
Minister of Fisheries,Dr
of Angola for the GCLME Project. The Institute of Marine
Victoria Cristovoa de Barros
Research is the designated Regional Activity Centre for Fish-
Neto and Deputy Minister of
eries and would receive State of the Art equipment and sup-
Environment, Mr Graciano
Domingos. He also met the
port from the project.
Deputy Minister for Petro-
The Project would support the planned Mangrove
leum, Mr. Anibal Silva (not
Reafforestation Programme in the oil rich Cabinda Province
in the photograph).
being spearheaded by the Pro-Rector of the University, who
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G C L M E N e w s l e t t e r Page 2
Fifth Edition September, 2005
is also the Curator of the National Botanical Gardens.
Regional Workshop on Mangroves Restoration, Accra: 19 - 23 Sept. 05.
At the request of the Regional Director, the Deputy Minis-
The Minister for Environment
ter of Petroleum promised to get the petroleum industry
& Science, honourable Chris-
interested in the mangrove restoration project.
tine Churcher wondering "why
the bitter lessons have not
Between 19-24 September, a Workshop on Mangrove Res-
changed the way we do
toration was organized at the Regional Coordination Unit,
things". To her left is Dr. Ayaa
Accra, Ghana. The Opening Ceremony chaired by Dr. A.K.
Kojo Armah, Head of Depart-
Armah, Head of Department of Oceanography and Fisher-
ment of Oceanography and
Fisheries, University of
ies, University of Ghana, Accra, was honoured by the Min-
Ghana who chaired the Open-
ister of Environment and Science, Honourable Christine
ing Ceremony.
Churcher, her Deputy, Dr. Ghesika A. Agambila and the Chief
Director, Ministry of Environment and Science, Mr. Edward
Osei Nsenkyire. The Workshop on Mangrove Restoration
P r o f . S i e g h a r d
was organized to, among others, train National Experts in
Holzloehner, Inst. of
Oceanography, Uni-
the identification of mangrove flora and fauna. The Work-
versity of Calabar,
shop was attended by experts and senior level functionaries
Nigeria. Behind him
from the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Fisher-
from right are: Mr.
ies, Land Use Planning and Industry, Provincial and Local
Stephen Bette, Mr.
Arikpo Ettah and
Governments, Universities and Research institutions of the
Prof. Emmanuel
sixteen project countries, that have preliminary experience
Obot from Nigeria.
in scientific and technological activities on mangrove and
wetland management.
On 22 September, 2005 as part of the approaches to achiev-
ing the aim of the Workshop, the participants led by Drs.
A.K. Armah, and Adomako both of the Department of Fish-
The Workshop
eries and Oceanography, University of Ghana, Accra, went
participants at a
on a field trip to see a Mangrove Restoration pilot project
Mangrove Re-
site at Winneba, a coastal village in Ghana. The Project got
stored site in
Winneba village
the traditional ruler involved and encouraged the villagers
led by a sub
not to cut the mangroves by introducing them to alterna-
Chief of the Vil-
tive livelihoods. The participants discovered that the project
lage.
has been successful. During their visit to the palace of the
Chief of the village, the latter confirmed to the participants
that his followers have benefited from the alternative liveli-
hoods provided by the Project. He also indicated interest in
getting more involved in the activities of the GCLME
Project.
Following the Workshop on Mangrove Restoration at the
A group picture of the
Regional Coordination Unit, Accra, Ghana was a Regional
participants with the
Capacity Building Workshop for NGOs on Integrated and
Chief of Winneba Vil-
Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Areas from
lage, Ghana during
their visit to his palace.
26 to 30 September, 2005.
The Minister for Environment, Honourable Christine
Churcher honoured the Opening Ceremony of the Work-
shop with her presence in company of Mr. Ajab the Head of
Human Resources, Ministry of Environment. Mr. Martin
Asamoah-Manu, Managing Consultant, Mamsco Environ-
mental Management Consortium Limited chaired the Open-
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G C L M E N e w s l e t t e r Page 3
Fifth Edition September, 2005
ing Ceremony of the Workshop. The Training Workshop was
Regional Capacity Building Workshop for NGOs on Integrated and Sustain-
organised to help the NGOs acquire the necessary qualifica-
able Management at the RCU, Accra - Ghana: 26 - 30 September, 2005.
tions, information and approaches for guiding the various ac-
tors in the coastal and marine areas towards integrated envi-
R-L Are; Nicaise
ronmental and living resources management as well as to en-
Moulombi, President of
Croissance saine Environ-
sure continuity to their activities through sustainable financ-
ment, Gabon showing the
ing. In attendance were participants from multi-disciplinary
Min. for Env. Hon. Chris-
NGOs working in close cooperation with the populations and
tine Churcher, the Reg.
Dir. GCLME, Prof. Chidi
decision makers in the coastal areas of the 16 countries bor-
Ibe and Prof. K. Adam,
dering the Guinea Current. The training focused on basic con-
GCLME Consultant on
cepts of IEC (Information, Education and Communication),
Integrated Coastal Area
Management.
and on the sustainable financing mechanisms of NGO activi-
ties in coastal and marine areas. As Part of the activities of the
Workshop, the participants led by Engr. George Nai, GCLME
Regional Consultant on Coastal Erosion visited the Erosion
Control Sites at Labadi, Accra and Tema on 29 September.
From 5 - 10 September, the Regional Director, GCLME, Prof.
Prof. Sikirou Adam,
GCLME Cosultant pre-
Chidi Ibe was on mission to Liverpool to participate in the
senting. To his right is
International Workshop on Coastal Processes, Measurement
Mr. Nicaise Moulombi
and Modelling. The Workshop, funded by the Corps of Engi-
from Gabon. To his left
neering (and the US Navy) and organized by the Proudman
are: Chinedum
Uwaegbulam, Nig.,
Oceanographic Laboratory was held 7-9 September, 2005 in
Ms. Salteria Teixeira
Liverpool, England. It was also an opportunity to the Regional
Mendes,Sao Tome e
Director to discuss with some participants plans for the pro-
Principe and Mr. Uche
Igwe, Nig.
posed Workshop on Coastal Processes and engineering to be
held in Calabar, Nigeria in December 2005.
R-L Are: Michel
From 12 to 16 September, 8 experts, from Ghana, Cote
Elemawugbo from
d'Ivoire, and Nigeria took part in the First Plankton and
Togo, Rev. Clement
Benthos analyses to analyze samples collected during the June
Ebin from Nigeria
- July Regional Fish Trawl Survey aboard the R.V. Fridtjof
who was the Chair-
man of the Workshop
Nansen and also to standardize methodologies for sampling
and Mr. Thomas
and estimating the biomass of Plankton and Benthic Fauna.
Bonebo from Côte
The Workshop organized at the laboratory of the Department
d'Ivoire.
of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of Ghana, was su-
pervised by Dr George Wiafe from this institution. This as-
sessment of plankton and benthos, critical in understanding
the productivity pattern of the Guinea Current Large Marine
Ecosystem is the first step towards the modeling of the sys-
tem and also the basis for recommendation of appropriate man-
agement strategies for exploitable living resources.
As a follow-up of the visit of Senator Francis Ella, Chief Ex-
ecutive of Lakes Fish Farm Plc to the Regional Coordination At the visit to the Ero-
Unit, Accra, Dr. Theodore Djama, the Fisheries Officer, sion Control Site at Tema
Beach. the Workshop
GCLME, in company of Dr. George Darpaah, Expert in Aquac- Participants were being
ulture, Coastal Resource Unit of the University of Ghana and introduced to the mate-
Mr. Linus Kumah, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Ghana were rials used to protect the
beach from erosion by
on mission to Rivers State, Nigeria. The objective of the visit Engr. George Nai,
was to inspect the 100 acre- Lakes Farm owned by Senator GCLME Regional Con-
Ella and to draw lessons for the larger assessment of Aquacul- sultant on Erosion
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G C L M E N e w s l e t t e r Page 4
Fifth Edition September, 2005
ture and Mariculture in the GCLME Region. During their
Working Group of Plankton and Benthos; 12 - 16 September, 2005 at the
visit to the Farm, the team identified possible threats to the
University of Ghana, Accra - Ghana
development of that sector and possible partners and stake-
holders in the aquaculture sector in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Group pic-
ture of Par-
On 23 September, the Democratic Republic of Congo
ticipants of
organised in Kinshasa a Workshop on Public Awareness. The
the Plankton
Regional Director, GCLME was represented by Mr. Germain
and Benthos:
Kombo, GCLME National Director of the Ministry of For-
W o r k i n g
Group Meet-
estry and Environment, Congo (Brazaville).
ing, 12 - 16
Between 10 - 17 September, Mr Napoleon Gbolonyo, Ad-
September,
ministrative Officer, GCLME was on mission to
2005.
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to represent the GCLME Project
at the 24th Session of the Council of Ministers of the River
Niger Basin Authority and to explore possible areas of col-
laboration between the GCLME Project and the projects
under the Niger Basin Authority.
24th Session of the Council of Ministers of the River Niger Basin Authority:
Between 27 - 30 September, the Fisheries Officer, GCLME,
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: 10-17 Sept. 05
Dr. Theodore Djama was on mission to Conakry, Guinea to
represent the Regional Director, GCLME at the Launching
of the Project Activities in Guinea.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS IN OCTOBER, 2005.
* 3 - 7 October: Workshop on Final Meeting of the Regional
TDA Working Group at the Regional Coordination Unit,
Accra. - Ghana.
* 09 - 12 October: Mission to Dakar by the Environment
Officer, GCLME, Dr. Jaques Abe; to represent the Regional
Director at the CCLME meeting in Dakar Senegal to give an
overview of the GCLME project.
L-R : Mr. Mohammed Bello Tuga, Exec. Sec. NBA, Mr.Abdou Labo, Min.of
* 10 - 14 October: Regional Fish Trawl Survey Results Vali-
Water Resources, Env. & Desertifiaction Control of Rep. of Niger and also
dation Workshop at the RCU, Accra.
the Chairman of NBA Council of Ministers, His excellency Salif Diallo, Se-
nior Minsiter for Agric ulture, Hydraulics and Fisheries, Burkina Faso.
* 13-16 October: Mission to Lagos and Port-Harcourt, Ni-
geria by the Regional Director, GCLME; to inspect the boats
of the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography, Lagos and that of
Mission to Senator Ella's Lake Farm, Rivers State, Nigeria by Fisheries and
HoneyWell Fisheries Ltd in Port Harcourt in preparation for
Aquaculture Experts: 19 - 22 Sept. 05
the proposed sea based training on pollution monitoring.
* 24 - 27 October: Joint Mission to Nigeria by Dr Fofana
Mamadou, Regional GIS Expert, Mr. Joshua Ndubuisi ICT
Specialist, GCLME and Miss Kelechi Ihemeje, GCLME Edi-
tor, to evaluate the set up including facilities and Work Plan
at the Regional EIMS Centre, University of Lagos and; to
develop with the Regional EIMS Expert / Coordinator of
the Centre the best ways for acquisition and sharing of data
A visit to the
within the region.
farm: Some speci-
men from the
Grow - out Pond
which showed
Kelechi Ihemeje
stunted growth.
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Layout by J o s h u a O k e c h u k u N d u b u i s i, ICT Specialist
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