Expert tasks Gulf of Guinea on financial commitments
Mr Tony Alonwu, Chairman for the Expert Meeting of the Gulf of Guinea Council of Ministers, has urged Member States to redeem their financial commitments to effectively combat issues facing the region.
Alonwu made the call in Abuja during the Meeting of Experts ahead of the 11th Session of the Council of Ministers of the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) holding on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Alonwu, the financial constraints of the GGC and low level of cooperation amongst Members States were major reasons limiting the Commission from achieving its mandates.
Gulf of Guinea Commission was established in 2001 with set objectives which includes combating maritime crimes- piracy, sea robbery, illegal bunkering.
The commission also aims to combat environmental pollution, drugs and arms trafficking, as well as illegal unreported and unregulated fishing.
Alonwu stressed the importance for Member States to Cooperate and meet their financial obligations to organization by paying the annual contributions and dues as at when due.
“For us to achieve our collective objectives, and address frontally the present security challenges at the waters of the Gulf of Guinea, there is greater need for Member States to cooperate.
“And be more committed inn honouring their financial obligations to the organization, through payment, as at when dues, their annual statutory contribution; and attending structured meetings.
“Where decisions on the way forward of the organization are usually taken, it is only Member States of the Gulf of Guinea Commission that can build the organization into a strong
“The current situation where the secretariat is unable to finance its activities due to non-payment of assessed contributions by majority of member states constitutes a threat to smooth functioning of the Commission”, Alonwu said.
Alonwu said that in Nov. 2017, when Nigeria successfully hosted the 4th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments, one of the major outcomes of the summit was a “Revitalization Strategy”.
He explained that the Revitalization Strategy of the Gulf of Guinea Commission was aimed at transforming the organisation into an effective mechanism for strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
He added that the Revitalization Strategy also seeks to build confidence among Member States to ensure peace, security and development in the region.
“With its five established committees on Peace and Security, Committee on Circulation and Movement of Persons and Goods, Committee on Oil and Environment, Fishing and Committee on Finance.
“The Revitalization Strategy, if implemented has the potential of reviving the GG to make the organization achieve its set objectives it was established in 2001.
Alonwu urged participants of the expert meetings to make meaningful contributions, explaining that the meeting was crucial as it outcome of discussions would set the tone for the Council of Ministers Meeting.
Speaking earlier, Amb. Florentina Ukonga, Executive Secretary of the Commission, said that the Expert Meeting aims to generate ideas for necessary recommendations to the Council of Ministers.
Ukonga said that the meeting would avail members of the Commission and the Ministers to review the activities of the GGC as approved by the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments of Nov. 23, 2017.
She explained that criminal activities, underdevelopment and insecurity were yet to completely eliminated from Member Countries of the Gulf of Guinea.
“I hope that this meeting will generate ideas and discussions for necessary recommendations to the Council of Ministers to give full support to the activities of the GGC by funding.
“Participating in its activities at appropriate levels, defending its interest and being its advocate in all fora to enable the organization achieve its objectives.
“The agenda is short but it contains items that call for frank discussions on the way forward for the GGC and I sincerely hope that this Council of Ministers Meeting will be the catalyst that the GGC needs.
“To catapult it into higher levels of functioning, funding, operation and relevance are relevant.
“The reasons that led to the establishment of the GGC remain valid. Criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea region, which GGC is expected to focus on and encourage regional solutions are yet to be completely eliminated.
“Threats to the region’s development, to population’s well-being and effective collaboration to ensure a safe and secure environment in which business can grow, though reducing, still exist in the region.
“Our states are expected to lead the fight against all these criminal activities and not leave the initiative of the battle to other stakeholders outside the region.
“Our interest and their interest are not necessarily the same”, Ukonga said.
Ukonga pledged the commitments of the executive secretariat to ensure the GGC achieve the objectives it was created for and transform the Gulf of Guinea Region into a peaceful and secured zone.