Leaders of port authorities from West and Central Africa have convened in Yaounde for high-level technical meetings aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the region’s maritime gateways, which handle the vast majority of external trade. The three-day conclave of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) opened on 9 March 2026 at the Yaounde Conference Centre, chaired by Cameroon’s Minister of Transport, Jean-Ernest Masséna Ngalle Bibehe.
Organised by the National Port Authority under the Ministry of Transport, the gathering brought together port executives, experts and delegates from across the region to examine administrative, legal, financial and economic strategies designed to modernise port management. Discussions were aimed at seeking solutions to improve efficiency, strengthen governance and integrate emerging technologies while addressing environmental obligations and evolving global maritime standards. Delegates focused on financial mechanisms and economic reforms considered essential to maintain competitiveness in a sector that serves as a strategic transit hub for approximately 95% of external trade.
During the meeting, the Finance and Economic Studies committee examined funding strategies that could support ecological transition in port operations, including the mobilisation of green funds, climate bonds, public-private partnerships and other international financing instruments. According to the port authorities, these funding models are considered critical because access to international capital increasingly depends on compliance with environmental transition requirements.
Participants are also reviewing the introduction of harmonised analytical accounting systems across member ports. The objective is to establish reliable management dashboards that allow port authorities to monitor operations more precisely, optimise revenue streams and improve financial planning. Parallel discussions within the Administrative and Legal Affairs committee address governance standards and legal frameworks that can reinforce institutional stability within port organisations.
Minister Jean-Ernest Masséna Ngalle Bibehe stated during the opening ceremony that the meeting reflects the commitment of the Government of Cameroon to promote regional cooperation in maritime transport and port management through the PMAWCA platform. He indicated that collaboration among port authorities is necessary to address challenges affecting the development of maritime transport and to align the sector with global transformations. According to the minister, discussions during the Yaounde meetings will contribute to proposals that member ports can present in broader international forums, including the International Maritime Organization.
The meeting mobilised delegations from numerous member ports across West and Central Africa, including national port authorities from Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau and Liberia; ENAPOR of Cape Verde; the Port of Maputo in Mozambique; the Port of Owendo in Gabon; the Port of Malabo in Equatorial Guinea; the Port of Luanda in Angola; ports in Lagos and Port Harcourt in Nigeria; the ports of Tema and Takoradi in Ghana; the Port Authority of Lomé in Togo; the Port Authority of Dakar in Senegal; the Gambia Ports Authority; the Port Authority of Conakry in Guinea; the Port Authority of Cotonou in Benin; the Port Authority of Pointe-Noire in Congo; the ports of Abidjan and San-Pedro in Côte d’Ivoire; and the port authorities of Douala and Kribi in Cameroon.
Within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area, participants indicated that modernising port operations, accelerating digitalisation and implementing decarbonisation strategies are essential measures to transform ports into competitive economic hubs capable of supporting regional trade growth and sustainable maritime transport.
Mercy Fosoh
