Liberia Wants MSC States Set Up, Operationalize maritime zones -At 45th ECOWAS’ Mediation and Security Meeting

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., along with the Minister of National Defense, Maj. Gen. Daniel Ziankahn on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 attended a day long Ministerial level Meeting of the 45^th Session of the ECOWAS’ Mediation and Security Council (MSC) held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia with the Liberian Minister for Foreign Affairs calling on member states to set up and operationalizes their maritime zones in the face of increasing piracy in the gulf.

Addressing the participants at the opening of the meeting, Minister Kemayah lauded the support ECOWAS provided during the Special Senatorial Elections held on December 8, 2020 in Liberia. “Let me used this time to commend all of the members of ECOWAS for the support render the Government and people of Liberia in the just ended Special Senatorial elections on December 8, 2020 to be specific”, Foreign Minister mentioned.

A Foreign Ministry release said Ambassador Kemayah was quick to indicate that indeed, there was an isolated and scudded semblance of violent instances, which noted, with the able and astute leadership of His Excellency, President George M. Weah, were brought under control.

In furtherance, Minister Kemayah:  “we can say that indeed, Liberia had very smooth and successful senatorial elections,” stating that the country and its people remain very much committed to the tenets of democracy as indicated always by President Weah.

“For the first time in our history, the President, though the ruling party experienced some defeat, but he was very quick in accepting the losses; realizing that the elections were conducted by the National Elections Commission without any interference whatsoever from the government.

“Our President was very kind hearted in extending congratulations to those members from the opposition and independent candidates who were elected; that was indeed historic,” Ambassador Kemayah said.

On the issue of maritime security, the Liberian Foreign Minister said as it relates to the report on maritime security, Liberia will like to encourage other sisterly countries, who have not setup their maritime zones to please work, in terms of ensuring that such zones are setup.

The Foreign Minister said the countries concerned should not only set up their maritime zones, but they need to work toward operationalizing such maritime zones.

Owing to our concern as it relates to the increasing piracy, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea, it is the belief of Liberia that setting up the maritime zone fully, will go a long way in enhancing the security situation in the sub region.

For her part,. Mrs. Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of the Republic of Ghana and Chair of ECOWAS Council of Ministers who presided over the meeting, urged the Ministers and Representatives of Member States to conduct a thorough consideration of the recommendations from the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ambassadorial level and the various memoranda brought forward for approval.

She said the MSC would continue to focus its attention on implementing the ECOWAS Action Plan against Terrorism while redoubling the collective efforts in honoring the financial obligations made towards the implementation of the 2020-2024 Priority Action Plan to combat extremism in West Africa, the release signed by Sylvester K. Pewee, assistant minister for Public Affairs at the Foreign Ministry concluded.