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The African marine sector should transition away from using fossil fuels and move toward alternative fuels with low or no carbon emissions, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, minister of foreign affairs and regional integration has said.

The Minister believes this shift would help Africa's marine industry improve in its efforts to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, which are quickly emerging as the preferred method of shipping.

She was speaking at the 17th Extraordinary General Assembly of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) in Accra.

The second meeting in 13 months was to ensure MOWCA was being guided toward its goals in line with best management practices and principles.

It brought together more than sixty delegates from over 20 nations to discuss issues crucial to the African marine sector.

“We must begin frank discussions on current development in Green Shipping initiative,” she said.

Madam Ayorkor Botchwey challenged the gathering to be ready for the cost implications of the switch to greener fuels on ship owners, which would result in higher freight prices.

"I will urge MOWCA to consider the effects of the market-based measures under discussion within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on our economies. It would also be pertinent to identify possible ways to benefit from any fundraising thereof, in order to minimise the effects of the transition on all players, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), she said."

Kwaku Ofori-Asiamah, Minister of Transport and Chairman of MOWCA, emphasized the importance of member states working together to develop relevant strategies for the operation and utilization of the region's maritime resources.

“I must reiterate that no single member state can make significant strides on their own. Areas such as maritime security, maritime safety and navigation, port and infrastructure development, environmental protection, and fisheries amongst others can only become effective with a coordinated and integrated effort,” he shared.

Dr. Paul Adalikwu, Secretary-General of MOWCA, stated that having a strong Maritime Development Bank based in Nigeria, with strong and active mutually beneficial links to the global International Maritime Organization (IMO), is part of the organization's vision and mission.

“My expectations are to use the platform of MOWAC to plant a lush and luxuriant economic tree for the entire African continent,” he added.