PMAWCA ELECTION: NPA Pledges Support For Ghana

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Engr. Omar Suleiman has given an assurance that the Authority will support Ghana in her bid for the position of Secretary General of Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) during the forthcoming elections of the sub-regional maritime body.
Engr. Omar Suleiman disclosed this in Lagos, yesterday while receiving a delegation from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), who had come to solicit support for its candidate for the position of Secretary General of the Association.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Engr. Omar Suleiman has given an assurance that the Authority will support Ghana in her bid for the position of Secretary General of Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) during the forthcoming elections of the sub-regional maritime body.
Engr. Omar Suleiman disclosed this in Lagos, yesterday while receiving a delegation from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), who had come to solicit support for its candidate for the position of Secretary General of the Association.
Mr. Michael Luguje of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and presently the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Regional Coordinator for non-francophone West and Central African countries is the candidate Ghana will feature during the election.
The Managing Director added that there is need for Ghana and Nigeria to come together for a common goal and work towards the same direction in all affairs of the association for their common good.
He stressed the need for PMAWCA as a sub-regional body to work as a team and do away with micro-nationality sentiment which promotes Anglophone and Francophone dichotomy within the organisation.
Engr. Omar Suleiman asserted that pollution control, piracy and other maritime crimes are critical issues which PMAWCA should seriously look into and proffer lasting solutions, pointing out that with Mr. Michael Luguje as Secretary General, he will bring his wealth of experience to bear in the body.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr. Kofi Mbiah, Board member, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Shipper Authority, had told the Managing Director, that PMAWCA, established about 40 years ago has not met the expectations of member- countries as well as other maritime bodies and as such there is need for change through a dynamic Secretary General, a quality that is possessed by Mr. Luguje.
While commending the cordial relationship between Nigeria and Ghana over the years, Dr. Mbiah thanked the Managing Director for the warm reception and hospitality accorded the delegation by the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Other members of the delegation include; Mr. Nestor Galley, former Director-General of the GPGA and Ms. Joana Adda, Public Relations Manager of the Authority.