MOWCA Election: Onyema Lobbies West, Central African Countries For Nigerian Candidate

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama has stepped up campaign moves for Nigerian candidate in the forthcoming election of a new Secretary General for Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu.

Sources at the Foreign Affairs Ministry disclosed to THISDAY that Onyeama activated talks through his ministry to about 15 countries in the West and Central African regions to support Nigeria’s candidacy at the 16th Extra Ordinary General Assembly which comes up in Accra from November 16 to 18, 2021.

“The minister has directed designated officials and our diplomatic missions to open talks with member countries of MOWCA. We won’t be engaging Guinea because the Heads of State of African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended the country.

Recent moves by the Nigerian foreign affairs Minister is a follow up on a previous attempt to mobilise support for Adalikwu, who according to MOWCA Rules of Procedure, is the most qualified candidate at the earlier convened 15th General Assembly in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo where attempts to hold the election failed.

Diplomatic sources added that while some countries had written in support of Nigeria for the number one position in the 46 year old body, the Ministry is opening interactions with countries that are yet to express commitment in support of Nigeria.

MOWCA Rules of Procedure provides provides that aside meeting other conditions , candidates should not be above 55 years at the time of filing their applications.

While Nigeria’s Adalikwu met the age and other requirements, Guinean candidate Mamadou Diallo of Guinea was 60 and Katari Leon of Benin Republic was 62 as at when they applied.
MOWCA President and Transport Minister of Ghana, Hon Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, who took over at the 15th General Assembly held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, has started moves to reform the body.

Article 74 of the August 6, 1999 Rules of Procedure of MOWCA, states that every candidate aspiring to the post of Secretary General should fulfill the following criteria: “He shall be a native and citizen of one member state, be aged 35 years at least and 55 years at most, be a university graduate or have an equivalent training, be proposed by his country of origin, have experience and competence in maritime transport, have excellent professional and moral references, have a mastery of one of the working languages, not be a citizen of the country holding the headquarters of the organisation.”