The Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) recently concluded its annual Board of Directors’ meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Hosted by the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), the meeting saw participation from its Board Members within the sub-region including Directors-General from the Port of The Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Senegal and Nigeria.

The meeting emphasizes the Association’s role in enhancing maritime operations and regional and regional cooperation.
Welcoming the PMAWCA Board of Directors, SLPHA’s Director-General, Mr. Yankuba Askia Bio, highlighted the significance of PMAWCA's efforts in promoting seaports across West and Central Africa.

The Director General expressed a sense of homecoming, noting that PMAWCA was founded in Freetown in October 1972 under the guidance of the Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). He reaffirmed SLPHA’s commitment to supporting PMAWCA’s initiatives in fostering regional maritime development.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mr. Rhex Bhonapha, who delivered the keynote speech, underscored SLPHA's crucial role in advancing His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio's "Big Five Game Changers” agenda.
Mr. Bhonapha emphasized that SLPHA is central to facilitating trade and transportation, which in turn bolsters trade and agricultural activities in Sierra Leone and the broader region.

PMAWCA President, Mr. Martin Boguikouma, who also serves as Managing Director of Gabon's Ports and Harbours, noted that the meeting brings together six key ports that are members of the Board: Gabon, Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea and The Gambia.

The Board's agenda included assessing the outcomes of 2023 activities of PMAWCA, reviewing the 2023 audited report and approving the 2024 activity programme and the 2025 budget.
Additionally, plans for the 44th council meeting scheduled for November 2024 in Conakry were discussed.

The Annual Board of Directors Meeting in Freetown underscored PMAWCA’s enduring commitment to fostering maritime trade and cooperation within West and Central Africa.

In bringing together key stakeholders, the Association continues to drive initiatives that enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of regional ports. This meeting not only reflected on past achievements but also charted a course for future endeavors, ensuring that the ports in this strategically vital region remain integral to global trade networks.

As PMAWCA looks forward to its next council meeting in Conakry, the Association’s dedication to its mission of promoting and improving port management and operations across West and Central Africa remains unwavering.
The collaboration and strategic planning exhibited at the Freetown meeting are testament to the dynamic and forward-thinking approach that defines PMAWCA's operations.