By Bill W. Cooper
The Secretary General of the West and Central African Port Managers Association, Jean Marie Koffi, has expressed his organization’s willingness to collaborate with the Liberian government through the National Port Authority (NPA) aimed at enhancing regional transport infrastructure.
This partnership, Mr. Koffi said, seeks to improve connectivity and streamline logistics across West Africa, facilitating trade and economic growth for the West African region and the entire continent at large.
The Port Managers Association for West and Central Africa was established in 1972, to strengthen port managers’ capacities, develop infrastructure, and enhance maritime transportation cooperation.
Addressing a team of reporters during a dinner that climaxed his three-day visit to Liberia, Koffi emphasized the importance of efficient transport systems in fostering regional integration and attracting foreign investment.
He said there are plans to engage potential investors to invest in the region’s maritime transportation sector, which will not only boost Liberia’s economy but also strengthen ties with neighboring countries in the region.
Koffi explained that the move is intended to enhance trade within the region and reduce transportation costs, noting, “These costs are often associated with the cost of living due to high commodity prices resulting from the high cost of imports from outside the region.”
According to him, such efforts would drive economic activities in the region and reduce the high cost of living, revealing that the Regional Port Managers Association does not have the money to invest in such an ambitious project but would want investors to consider that.
He maintained that there is currently a vessel transporting goods and traders between Conakry, Guinea, and Freetown, Sierra Leone, that is making a significant impact, and expressed his hopes that such services could be extended to other parts of the region.
Commenting on his visit to Liberia, Koffi narrated that his purpose was to assess the country’s port’s operational capacity, provide assistance where necessary, and strengthen collaboration between his organization and the government.
He asserted that the impact of decades of civil war has left a huge scar on Liberia’s port infrastructure, thus stressing the need to invest in these infrastructures for the betterment of the region.
Koffi further emphasized that the issue of infrastructure deficit is not unique to Liberia and that once good roads connect the ports, trade will improve, disclosing that the regional port managers’ focus right now is on capacity building and how they can help Liberia.
He asserted that the organization has already sent two National Port Authority’s junior-level managers for training, and added that upon their return from Malaysia, the next training batch will target senior managers.
Koffi furthered that the goal is to build the capacity of port managers and develop their skills so that they work in compliance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), thus thanking the NPA’s management team for the warm reception.
NPA’s Deputy Managing Director for Administration, James Bernard, thanked Koffi and the delegation for the visit, the port’s heartfelt gratitude for the visit, culminating in support for the NPA.
