(Monrovia, Liberia – August 26, 2024) The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) inaugurated a one-week capacity-building course on Maritime Security Reporting in Monrovia, Liberia.
This marks the fourth event in a series of training programs focused on enhancing maritime security reportage in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). The course is a key output of the five-year project, titled “Integrated Responses to Threats to Maritime Safety and Security in the GoG Domain,” funded by the Government of Denmark and in collaboration with the Inter-Regional Coordination Centre (ICC) based in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The project seeks to foster collaboration among stakeholders in the GoG maritime sector, aiming to enhance the understanding of the region’s dynamic maritime security landscape. The initiative will ultimately promote better coordination and cooperation, leveraging both individual and collective efforts to improve the understanding of maritime security issues in the GoG.
Targeted at media practitioners and communication professionals and public relations officers within maritime agencies, the course is designed to equip participants with a deeper understanding of the GoG maritime issues. The training is vital for ensuring accurate and effective reporting on maritime security, which will in turn support the efforts of state and non-state actors in preventing maritime crimes, including piracy.
In his opening remarks, Counselor Nya S. Gbaintor, Principal Director for Administration at the Liberia Maritime Authority, welcomed the participants and expressed gratitude to KAIPTC for selecting Liberia as a beneficiary of the course. He highlighted the challenges of limited collaboration and communication among maritime actors in Liberia, emphasizing the importance of information sharing in overcoming these obstacles.
Mr. Edmund Yaw Obeng, Acting Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ghana in Liberia, underscored the critical role of the media in maritime security. He noted the shared historical bonds between Ghana and Liberia, particularly in maritime cooperation, and lauded the course as a platform to strengthen state-media collaboration in the region.
Dr. Emma Birikorang, Acting Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research, at the KAIPTC, echoed similar sentiments in her address, emphasizing the significance of accurate maritime security reporting in the GoG. She also noted, that previous editions of the course in Ghana and Nigeria have already trained 72 participants, resulting in a heightened awareness and new opportunities for those involved in maritime security reporting.
“The KAIPTC, as one of the three ECOWAS centers of excellence, remains dedicated to advancing peace and security in Africa through training, research, and policy advocacy. This latest course is a testament to the center’s commitment to promoting safer maritime environments in the GoG,” Dr. Emma Birikorang said.
The course is expected to culminate in enhanced collaboration and cooperation among media and maritime agencies, contributing to a more secure and well-informed maritime sector in the Gulf of Guinea. A total of 28 participants, representing the media and various maritime agencies, are attending the course in Liberia.
