WIMOWCA inauguration and conference

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The inaugural event by the new Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA) will explore the theme of 'Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea' and feature high profile speakers including IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and the Minister of State for Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki. The conference, which is open to all, will be opened by the Ghana Minister of Transport, the Hon Kwaku Ofori Asiamah. 

There will be an inauguration ceremony to mark the relaunch of WIMOWCA as the newest IMO regional association for women in the maritime sector (WIMA). There are already seven WIMAs that have been established across Africa, Arab States, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific, covering some 152 countries and 700+ participants.

The opening ceremony starts at 10am GMT (11am BST) on 23rd July at the MT Addico Conference Hall in Accra, Ghana, and can be accessed online using this link on the day: https://undp.zoom.us/j/82794267689

Provisional programme: 

  • 10.00: Inauguration of Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA) as an IMO WIMA
  • 11.00: Panel discussion on the impact of maritime insecurity on shipping in the Gulf of Guinea, challenges and the way forward 
  • 12.00: Presentation on the work of the US Naval Forces Europe and Africa Women's, Peace, and Security Working Group in West and Central Africa
  • 12.15: Presentation on the IMOGEN (IMO member states for gender equality in maritime) initiative

Conductor of ceremonies:

Josephine Antwi, Maritime Journalist with Media General (TV3), Ghana

 Speakers (listed in alphabetical order): 

  • Alykka Stella Aber, Project Officer, Training, Maritime Security Section, IMO 
  • Admiral Francis Dan Akpan, ex-Nigerian Navy, Maritime Strategies, Logistics and Security Specialist based in Nigeria 
  • Achiille Gueye, Director General, Senegal Maritime Authority
  • Shanece Kendall, Lieutenant commander, US Navy
  • Michaela Muscat, cofounder, IMOGEN Initiative; and Malta's alternate Permanent Representative to IMO  
  • Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu, Interim President, WIMOWCA
  • Chris Trelawny, Chief of Sub-Division for Maritime Development, Technical Cooperation Division, IMO