To navigate the challenges of port safety and security in Africa, directors and maritime security experts from fourteen African countries have begun the 10th Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) Harbor Masters and Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs) Network Conference in Liberia.
The high-level gathering, which officially opened on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Monrovia, brings together delegates from across the West and Central African region to discuss critical issues surrounding port security, maritime safety, and best practices in port operations. The conference is being hosted by the National Port Authority (NPA) of Liberia, under the leadership of Managing Director Sekou Dukuly, with the theme: “Navigating the Challenges of Port Safety and Security.”
Speaking at the beginning of the conference at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, the NPA Managing Director said the gathering is more than a routine meeting; it is a reaffirmation of Liberia’s commitment to regional cooperation, maritime safety, and port security.
“We view this event as a significant platform to re-establish our strong presence within the (PMAWC) community and to advocate for deeper integration across port authorities in the region,” he narrated. According to him, the National Port Authority of Liberia is re-committing to being present in PMAWCA meetings and annual general conferences as a strong partner. Manager Director Sekou: “We have prioritized the involvement of all our port facility security officers (PFSOs) from across the country and encouraged the participation of junior marine officers.”
For his part, Ministry of Transport (MOT) Deputy Minister for Land, Rail and Transport, Randolph Natt, stated that safety and security at various ports encompasses the protection of infrastructure, superstructure, goods and services, and most importantly, the labor force.
Deputy Minister Natt revealed that in today’s globalized economy, ports are not just a transit point; they are vital nodes in global logistics chains. He said that modern supply chains prioritize reliability over cost and speed, with international organizations increasingly emphasizing secure and safe port operations as key determinants for success.
“It is clear that a port’s ability to ensure reliable services hinges on its capacity to integrate safety and security. These are fundamental components of our port’s infrastructure and the capacity of our human resource,” Natt explained.
Also speaking, Jean Marie Koffi, PMAWCA Secretary General, narrated that the annual meeting remains the foremost platform for coordination, sharing experiences, and designing joint actions toward the secure and resilient management of ports for all directors.
“Since our last meeting held in Praia, Cabo Verde, from July 1st to 3rd, 2024, we have steadily advanced in implementing our 2024–2026 Strategic Plan. This roadmap reflects our shared vision of a West and Central African port space that is secure, competitive, and interconnected, aligned with the international ISPS Code, while remaining responsive to the unique challenges of our region,” Koffi said.
According to him, ports, as strategic gateways to national economies, face increasingly complex, multidimensional, and often transnational risks, adding that the PMAWCA Network must remain proactive, united, and methodical in its approach.
Underscoring key priority challenges that demand full attention of port directors, the PMAWCA Secretary General disclosed energy transition, which requires rapid adaptation of infrastructure to safely accommodate next-generation vessels, the presence of Private Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) onboard vessels calling at our ports—posing critical questions of coordination, sovereignty, and overall risk management, ballast water management and hull cleaning, with their environmental and health implications, calling for harmonized and reinforced controls across all our ports, among others.
