By Amos Harris
Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia has taken a significant stride toward reclaiming its position as a key port hub in West and Central Africa by successfully hosting the 10th meeting of the Harbor Masters and Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs) Network. This historic event, held from July 1–3, 2025, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia, marked the first time Liberia has welcomed this prestigious regional maritime forum.
The conference, organized under the banner of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), brought together delegates from over 20 countries. Under the theme “Navigating the Challenges of Port Safety and Security,” the gathering served as a vital platform for collaboration among high-ranking port officials, harbor masters, PFSOs, maritime administrators, and technical experts from across the sub-region. Countries represented included Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Benin, Togo, Senegal, and Liberia, alongside representatives from international development organizations and maritime partners.
The hosting of this year’s conference is widely recognized as a significant milestone for Liberia’s maritime sector, particularly as it coincides with the new leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. His administration has prioritized infrastructure rehabilitation, economic revitalization, and international engagement, underscoring the nation’s renewed commitment to global maritime standards.
In his opening remarks, Sekou A. M. Dukuly, Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA), warmly welcomed regional stakeholders. He acknowledged the event’s importance, crediting the government’s vision and commitment for Liberia’s successful hosting. “We are honored to welcome this distinguished body of maritime professionals to our country,” Mr. Dukuly stated. “After years of post-war recovery and rebuilding, Liberia’s ability to host this conference reflects our national resilience and our commitment to maritime development, port safety, and regional cooperation.”
He emphasized that Liberia’s participation in the PMAWCA family extends beyond mere presence, highlighting a renewed focus on leadership, innovation, and sustainable reform. “Under the guidance of President Boakai, Liberia is poised to regain its status as a key player in African maritime logistics and governance,” he added.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Liberian Government, Deputy Minister for Road and Transport, Randall Nike, described the conference as a turning point for regional port operations and economic integration. “Ports are no longer just entry and exit points for goods. In this era of global interconnectedness, they are economic powerhouses—nodes in the vast logistics and supply chain network,” Mr. Nike asserted.
He underscored that port safety and security are now central to economic resilience and national development, noting that West and Central Africa, home to over 448 million people with more than half of its countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean, possesses immense untapped maritime potential. Minister Nike cited the economic setbacks triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, including a 2.4% contraction in regional GDP in 2020—the first in over 60 years—and highlighted how that crisis exposed structural vulnerabilities in port operations. “Now is the time to rebuild smarter,” he urged. “Let’s implement innovative safety protocols, upgrade infrastructure, and harness technology to make our ports competitive, secure, and adaptive to global demands.”
The three-day conference featured a series of high-level plenary discussions, breakout sessions, and working groups focused on port infrastructure, technological innovation, maritime surveillance, port security training, and the harmonization of safety standards across borders. Experts emphasized the importance of integrated port risk management systems and shared platforms for real-time intelligence, particularly in tackling piracy, cyber threats, smuggling, and transnational maritime crimes.
PFSOs and harbor masters, who are on the frontline of ensuring port safety, shared experiences and lessons learned from national contexts, reinforcing the value of collective strategy and cooperation. Additionally, discussions centered on transitioning from analog to digital port operations, including the expansion of Automated Identification Systems (AIS), smart container tracking, and biometric access control for port facilities. “We need more than national action; we need synchronized regional policies, harmonized training, and joint operations,” said one delegate from Nigeria. “A threat to one port is a threat to all.
For Liberia, the event is more than ceremonial; it is a declaration of intent. Managing Director Dukuly reaffirmed the NPA’s ongoing plans to upgrade facilities at the Freeport of Monrovia and other port installations, including Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper. He stated that the NPA is focused on compliance with international safety codes and is implementing modernization efforts aligned with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and other conventions.
“We are rebuilding our ports with a renewed sense of purpose. With the support of our partners, we aim to expand capacity, improve logistics, and attract more international shipping lines to Liberian ports,” Dukuly said. He also outlined Liberia’s interest in building a national port training center, with support from PMAWCA and international stakeholders, to strengthen local expertise and foster future maritime leaders.
Jean Marie Koffi, Secretary General of PMAWCA, praised Liberia for its hospitality and its ability to successfully coordinate the multi-national conference. He acknowledged the efforts of the NPA leadership and the government in revamping Liberia’s image as a responsible and proactive port nation. “Liberia has demonstrated that it is ready to lead,” Koffi said. “This conference has not only been well-organized but has been rich in content, dialogue, and technical value. Liberia has set a high bar.”
Delegates concluded the conference with the adoption of several resolutions that will be forwarded to the broader PMAWCA General Assembly. These include establishing a joint regional port security task force, creating a digital information-sharing platform for maritime intelligence, launching joint capacity-building programs and certifications, supporting climate-resilient port infrastructure, and coordinating efforts on cybercrime and cargo fraud prevention.
Although President Boakai did not attend in person, his administration was visibly present and represented at the highest level. Government officials and civil society leaders attending the event offered tributes to the President’s leadership and his broader national development agenda. “President Boakai understands that Liberia’s ports are central to economic recovery and trade connectivity,” said a participant from Côte d’Ivoire. “His support for regional integration is transformative, and it is being noticed across West and Central Africa.”
A closing communiqué was issued, commending Liberia’s government for its unwavering support to the maritime sector and encouraging other member states to emulate the country’s progress.
Analysts suggest that Liberia’s successful hosting of the PMAWCA conference sets the stage for long-term benefits. The country is now better positioned to attract investment in port infrastructure, forge technical partnerships, and build local expertise. Civil society organizations and academia also participated, with calls for maritime research institutions and port policy think tanks to be developed in Liberia to support ongoing reforms. “Liberia’s history is deeply linked with the sea,” said a maritime historian from the University of Liberia. “This conference represents a full-circle moment—one where we reclaim our maritime destiny.”
As delegates departed Monrovia, the sentiment was one of optimism and renewed purpose. Liberia, once struggling to rebuild from decades of war and instability, has emerged with a unified maritime voice and a vision of progress. Liberia’s successful hosting of the 2025 PMAWCA Harbor Masters and PFSOs Conference has not only positioned the country as a regional leader in maritime affairs but has also sent a powerful message about its return to prominence on the global maritime stage. With a clear development agenda, strong government leadership, and growing international confidence, Liberia stands at the threshold of a new era—one where its ports are not just gateways for goods, but catalysts for national renewal and continental integration.
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