The growing consciousness to secure the maritime domain of West African nations against piracy and other waterborne vices has spread to Sierra Leone where the country has flagged-off collaboration with the United States of America.
To kick-start the partnership, stakeholders in the security sector with support from the Defence Attaché Office at the United States Embassy in Freetown have held a one-day national dialogue forum on maritime security.
The growing consciousness to secure the maritime domain of West African nations against piracy and other waterborne vices has spread to Sierra Leone where the country has flagged-off collaboration with the United States of America.
To kick-start the partnership, stakeholders in the security sector with support from the Defence Attaché Office at the United States Embassy in Freetown have held a one-day national dialogue forum on maritime security.
The USA/Sierra Lone collaboration comes on the heels of the acquisition of four specialized patrol boats by Ghana, as reported exclusively by Shipping Position Daily yesterday.
The conference was intended to facilitate ministerial and inter-agency coordination in strengthening security on the high seas.
The Sierra Leone’s minister of marine resources, Dr. Soccoh Kabia, who also doubles as the chairman of Joint Maritime Commission, JMC, said the meeting was significant as it helped to highlight the successes and challenges facing the commission and how they can foster good relationship with other partners to provide appropriate maritime security.
"We are jointly working with the US embassy, the military, police, line ministries and the maritime administration for effective service delivery on maritime security," he said.
Secretary General of JMC, John B. Rogers, said threat to maritime security has been on the increase since the Gulf of Aden was subjected to pirate attacks and the discovery of oil in Sierra Leone's maritime domain.
He said the shipment of iron ore and transshipment of other maritime products to Europe and other regions of the world could also pave the way for the likelihood of Sierra Leone becoming a target for the activities of organized criminal gangs in the country's inshore exclusive zone.
"This attempt of bringing stakeholders together to discuss maritime security is considered a landmark in the entire security arrangement of our country and the sub-region in addressing maritime insecurity and ensuring human security in our territorial waters," Rogers said. "There is a need to strengthen the protection of persons and ships sailing through our waters. It is my fervent belief that there is still more room for cooperation."
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