By Jessica Cox
Monrovia, Liberia – The National Port Authority (NPA) has successfully concluded the first round of a four‑year intensive training programme delivered under the European Union’s SCOPE Africa initiative a landmark regional effort to strengthen port safety, security, and governance across West and Central Africa.
The four‑day session, held at the Freeport of Monrovia, marked the completion of the first cohort of trainees drawn from the NPA’s Fire Service Department. This group of 25 participants has now graduated and will play key roles as future trainers in the Authority’s ongoing capacity‑building efforts.
SCOPE Africa short for Securing Corridors, Ports, and Exchanges in West and Central Africa — is a €12 million European Union‑funded programme implemented by the EU through partners Expertise France and Enabel.
The four‑year initiative is designed to enhance the safety, security, competitiveness, and resilience of key coastal ports, including Monrovia, by aligning operations with international standards and fostering local ownership of training and risk‑management systems.
Speaking on the final day of the session, EU Training Coordinator Sandy Cranston outlined the long‑term vision of the programme: “This training is designed not just to teach skills, but to train people who can train others building a sustainable pool of qualified trainers over the next four years.” According to Cranston, this first cohort has completed foundational modules, including: Basic firefighting media and techniques Command and control procedures for firefighting operations.
“These core competencies are essential before participants progress to advanced safety and maritime security training,” he emphasised. Cranston added that assessments will be conducted throughout the four‑year programme to evaluate how effectively trainees are being equipped to serve as trainers in their respective departments. The NPA’s Deputy Managing Director for Administration, James R. Bernard, described Liberia’s inclusion in SCOPE Africa as a historic achievement for the Authority.
“This is the first time Liberia has been accepted into such a major EU‑funded maritime security training programme. The focus on firefighting skills in this first phase lays the groundwork for broader security training spanning the fire service, port policing, and maritime safety operations,” Bernard said. He outlined upcoming training phases, which will include:
Security and patrol operations Port Facility Security Officer (PFSO) training.
“The main goal,” Bernard explained, “is to establish a cadre of certified trainers who can sustain this programme here in Liberia long after the EU’s direct involvement.” All trainers involved in the sessions are already certified, and the Authority hopes that all graduating trainees will also receive certification that enables them to teach future cohorts.
Liberia’s participation aligns with broader efforts to strengthen regional maritime safety and support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by boosting compliance with international port norms, enhancing risk management capability, and improving overall logistics performance.
By committing to continued training and transparent progress reporting, NPA officials say Liberia is positioning itself to become a more resilient and competitive participant in regional trade while uplifting local staff through specialized skills and leadership development.
The National Port Authority (NPA) was established by an Act of the National Legislature in 1967 and amended in 1970 as a state-owned corporation to manage, plan, and build all public ports in Liberia. The NPA system comprises four ports: Freeport of Monrovia, Port of Buchanan, Port of Greenville, and Port of Harper.
The Freeport of Monrovia is the largest within the Authority’s network. The harbor at the Freeport of Monrovia is protected by two rock breakwaters approximately 2,300 meters and 2,200 meters long, enclosing a basin of 300 hectares of protected water.
