The Association of African Shipowners (ASA) now has its offices in Côte d’Ivoire. The premises of the representation located at Riviera 4, quoted Jacques Prévert, were inaugurated on Thursday 13 March. A ceremony which coincided with another, the investiture of the national president of the ASA, Mrs. Marie-Justine Yapi épse Bébo.
The person in charge, at the national level of the entity of continental obedience, benefited from the support of the Secretary General (SG) of the said structure, Ms. Funmi Folorunso but also, from the supervision which is the Ministry of Transport through the presence of the Advisor, Sékou Camara. Mrs. Marie-Justine Yapi épse Bébo first received from the hands of the collaborator of the Minister of Transport, Amadou Koné, the white pennant bearing the symbol of the African association including the map of Africa with an anchor, surrounded by a blue background and further, the Ivorian flag.
Which, obviously, is a mission on behalf of the Association. For Councilor Sékou Camara, “it is a fleet, a flag” which is offered but also, it is “a heavy responsibility” in relation to which, the president has the arguments and reasons to succeed”, promising the commitment supervision in this regard.
The SG of the ASA in turn congratulated his collaborator. While promising concerted actions for the development of the sector and its leaders on the continent, she, with regard to Côte d’Ivoire, pleaded for it to have ships flying the national flag. What, specified the representative of the DG of the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs (DGAMP), the authorities and the actors of the sector are working on it. After her inauguration, the president, Marie-Justine Yapi thanked everyone for the trust placed in her.
“I urge you all to federate our efforts to make the section of the Association a benchmark section at the service of Côte d’Ivoire and the continent,” she concluded. After the series of speeches, there was the cutting of the ribbon, symbolizing the official opening of the ASA offices in Abidjan. A double ceremony marked by the presence of several institutions and structures, including the African Union, the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) whose headquarters are in Abidjan, Action de l State at Sea (AEM), represented by its Operations Coordination Director, the Vessel Captain, Charles Bamele Bi Zaouli.
