Tenth Annual PMAWCA Harbor Masters and PFSOs Meeting Concludes in Monrovia

The 10th Annual Meeting of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) Harbor Masters and Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs) Network ended in Monrovia on Thursday 3, 2025, with a unified call for enhanced collaboration and strategic action to address safety and security challenges across regional ports. Speaking on behalf of delegates during the close of the meeting, Captain Alpha Yayah Bangura, Vice President of the Harbor Masters Networks and Harbor master of of the Sierra Leone Port Authority, delivered the official conference resolution. Captain Bangura emphasized the urgency for member ports to adopt integrated strategies and foster continuous knowledge exchange to bolster port safety and security standards in West and Central Africa. “This gathering has demonstrated that our challenges are shared, and so too must be our solutions,” said Captain Bangura. “The path forward lies in stronger cooperation, collective capacity-building, and a commitment to implementing best practices across our port systems.” In the closing address, the Commissioner CEO of the Liberia Maritime Authority, Hon. Neto Lighe, extended his profound gratitude and appreciation to the National Port Authority (NPA) of Liberia for successfully hosting what he described as a pivotal conference for the future of regional trade and security. “The majority of goods entering our nations come through the ports. As such, port safety and security are not optional, they are fundamental,” said Commissioner Lighe. He reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to maritime security, citing the country’s Maritime Security Strategy as a cornerstone of national and regional defence on sea. Also addressing the assembly was the Secretary General of PMAWCA, who lauded the Liberian authorities for their warm hospitality and efficient organization of the conference. On behalf of the host institution, Hon. James R. Bernard, Deputy Managing Director for Administration at the NPA, expressed gratitude to Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Harbor Masters and PFSOs Network for selecting Liberia as this year’s host nation. The PMAWCA secretary General also recognized the tireless efforts of the organizing committee and support staff who ensured the success of this year’s meeting. He emphasized the importance of Africa Ports to step forward in making trade and commerce the pillar of their country’s development initiative. Speaking on behalf the NPA family, Harbor Master, Captain Samuel Lynch, echoed the need for ports to be able to provide the needed tools and logistics for transformative initiative in making Ports the gate way to their economy. Captain Lynch said the National Port Authority is dedication to translating the meeting’s outcomes into concrete actions for safer, more secure ports. The Monrovia meeting marks a decade of collaboration among regional maritime authorities under the PMAWCA framework, reinforcing the essential role of secure and efficient port operations in driving economic development across West and Central Africa