The newly reinstated Executive Director for Sierra Leone Maritime Administration Paul Sobba Massaquaoi, has on Monday 20th of February 2023, made a genuine case to the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization to see reason to remove Sierra Leone from the International Maritime Organization blacklist.
The Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration made this nationalistic call during a ceremony where mbassador Dr Morie Manyeh was presenting his credentials to the IMO Secretary General as the newly appointed IMO Permanent representative.
This is the very first time Sierra Leone has appointed an IMO permanent representative even though the country had had an alternative rep all this while.
This colorful ceremony depicts President Bio’s indefatigable commitment in putting the maritime on the map. It is also a reassuring stance for the country to refocus on ratifying all its conventions with the international community, especially the IMO.
The Executive Director Paul Sobba Massaquoi, used the opportunity to pleaded on the Secretary General to visit Sierra Leone as a member state to see the need for remove the country from the IMO black list. If Sierra Leone is being removed from the IMO blacklist, will alternatively pave the way for more big international vessels to do business in the country and help in reducing hiking prices of commodities.
The Executive Director also informed the IMO Secretary General that Sierra Leone do not have any sea farers represented in the flag ships. He therefore, pleaded that the IMO Secretary General considers approving the country’s STCW and removing the from the IMO black list.
In his statement, the IMO Secretary General appreciated the move and commended Sierra Leone for such huge international bilateral move. He therefore, promised to consider all the proposals presented by the Sierra Leone Maritime Executive Director for possible redress.