MOWCA SG Adalikwu secures second term, promises maritime growth across Africa

Stanley Ihedigbo

Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has secured a second term, continuing his leadership of the 25-member regional body for another four years, reaffirming confidence in his vision and stewardship of West and Central Africa’s maritime sector.

Adalikwu’s re-election, which followed the recently concluded 19th General Assembly of the organisation held in Banjul, The Gambia, was a unanimous decision.

His emergence was backed by endorsements from the leadership of member country delegations, who commended Adalikwu for his groundbreaking transformations in the 50-year-old body.

He was unanimously voted in at the General Assembly of MOWCA Ministers on February 19, 2026.

MOWCA Chairman and Minister of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure of the Republic of The Gambia, Mr. Ebrima Sillah, who spoke after Adalikwu’s victory, congratulated the SG on his renewed mandate, stating that his re-election was truly deserved and meritorious.

According to him, Adalikwu has reinforced the importance of West and Central African countries in the global maritime ecosystem through strategic engagements with stakeholders both within and outside Africa.

He further described MOWCA under Adalikwu’s leadership as a rising multilateral organisation, raising awareness on maximising the underutilised and untapped potential of the region’s vast maritime coastline.

Mr. Sillah added that under Adalikwu’s leadership, MOWCA has advanced significantly in regional maritime integration, security, capacity building, and sustainable development across its member states.

Ghana’s Minister of Transportation, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, praised Adalikwu as a leader with exceptional qualities whose achievements in the five-decade-old organisation are evident.

Hon. Nikpe stated that maritime trade is central to import and export activities and should be treated with the seriousness that Adalikwu has brought to MOWCA’s operations.

He further noted that member countries’ awareness and involvement in MOWCA and other international maritime activities have grown since Adalikwu first assumed the role of SG four years ago.

He added that Ghana is now more committed to adding value to its exports by providing fifty percent of raw materials, like cocoa beans, to the Ghanaian business community for processing into chocolate, unlike in the past when they were exported raw.

Dr. Adalikwu reassured all MOWCA member countries that he would pursue an agenda of cost-effective and environmentally sustainable shipping while promoting an African blue economy to achieve greater economic development and diversification.

He promised greater inclusivity and mass participation of all African coastal and land-linked countries in maritime matters. According to him, MOWCA will continue to provide technical support to countries with potential for seaport activities and assist in the establishment of dry ports across the continent for land-linked nations.

The SG also pledged to sustain efforts to transform MOWCA into the broader African Maritime Organisation (AMO), unifying Africa’s voice on maritime issues globally.

This, he stated, would create a common front and a stronger African presence in global maritime affairs.

Over the past four years, MOWCA’s interface with member countries has led to significant improvements in maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Adalikwu strengthened the implementation of the Yaoundé Architecture for regional cooperation, promoted ISPS Code adoption, facilitated naval equipment acquisition, and fostered community intelligence engagement.

Dr. Adalikwu also advanced the CINFOCOM (Centre for Information and Communication) initiative for real-time security information sharing, contributing to reduced piracy, with near-zero incidents reported by the International Maritime Bureau at times.

MOWCA endorsed models such as Nigeria’s SPOMO Act (Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences) for potential regional adoption and supported successful prosecutions of maritime criminals in countries including Nigeria and Togo.

On human capital development and international partnerships, his efforts secured a $1.3 million agreement with the Indonesian government to train 96 seafarers from MOWCA member states, enhancing skills and employability.

He also strengthened ties with global bodies such as the IMO, including signing an MoU and facilitating collaborations for professional training and blue economy growth.

Adalikwu initiated the establishment of the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB) to fund sustainable shipping and port infrastructure—an initiative that had been stagnant for over a decade before his first election.

He is also promoting initiatives including the Regional Maritime Fund, Integrated Sub-Regional Coast Guard Network to combat illegal activities at sea, Regional Transport Observatory for information dissemination, Regional Maritime Code to harmonise legislation, empowerment of merchant marines and maritime administrations, and a regional cabotage shipping company to boost intra-African trade.

He was recently named Africa’s Most Influential Maritime Personality in 2025 by JournalNG magazine for transforming MOWCA into a regional maritime powerhouse and positioning it as a unifying force for Africa’s maritime future aligned with AfCFTA goals.

His leadership has emphasised strategic reforms and partnerships, focusing on challenges such as underfunded maritime infrastructure, low ship ownership, and foreign dominance in the African maritime space.

Dr. Adalikwu is a strong advocate for a continent-wide cabotage regime, ensuring African maritime investors and professionals have priority in job opportunities and maritime-related entrepreneurship.

The 19th General Assembly, which also coincided with the organisation’s 50th anniversary, featured the election of Counsel Olimatou Danso Malang, Director General of the Gambia Maritime Administration, as Chairman of the MOWCA Group of Experts from 2026 to 2028.