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Experts from ECOWAS member states convened in Lomé, Togo, from May 6 to 8, 2024, to thoroughly review the draft supplementary Act concerning cooperation in combatting illicit maritime activities in the ECOWAS region.
The draft supplementary Act aims to establish a framework and allocate responsibilities to ensure that comprehensive, accurate, and reliable records of ECOWAS institutions and specialized agencies' activities are created, received, retained, accessed, and disposed of in a standardized and approved manner.
This meeting, organised by ECOWAS in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) via the support of the EU-funded SWAIMS project, is regarded as an important step towards enhanced cooperation in the repression of illicit maritime activities in the ECOWAS region, thus, contributing to the region’s security and stability.
Delivering his keynote address at the event, the Chief of Staff of the Togolese Navy, Babate Atatoum stated that the current security challenges require urgent action while expressing his gratitude to all the partners involved in making the event a success.
The representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Francis Omiunu reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to the fight against illicit activities in the maritime domain, even as he thanked the European Union(EU) for its financial support, and ECOWAS for its efforts in this crucial area for security in West Africa.
Moreover, representative of the European Union Delegation in Togo, Paolo Salvia underlined the importance of this meeting, pointing out that maritime safety concerns all States require a shared commitment.
The head of Division, Regional Security, Dr. Dieng Abdourahmane, on his part, stressed the importance of this meeting in clarifying the objectives of the draft supplementary Act relating to cooperation in suppressing illicit maritime activities in the ECOWAS region., and obtaining technical feedback for effective implementation of the recommendations made.
The minister counsellor for the Sea, Stanislas Baba recalled the harmful effects of maritime acts in ECOWAS regional waters, thus, underlining the crucial importance of proper shaping and implementation of this supplementary Act.
This workshop brought together participants from various departments of the ECOWAS Commission, its institutions and agencies, and was organised with the support of GIZ.
During the meeting, participants were briefed on implementing the asset management policy and manual, better understood the records management policy and manual, and prepared for management approval of the validated asset management policy and manual.
