-From a mere Gov’t liability to a massive revenue hub
By Jerromie S. Walters
Since the genesis of post-war Liberia and before her ascendancy as Head of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), much wasn’t heard about the institution as less progress that warranted public veneration was made.
Following her ascendency, Madam Emma Metieh Glassco broke the shield (s) that hindered the entity’s progress for years, with countless intrinsic steps that were at a certain point acknowledged by the United States and are still vividly seen today by all. Her commitment can also be seen in the reality that she uplifted NaFAA from being a mere government liability to a major revenue hub, as she increased the institution’s budgetary support to the National Government from $USD 80.000 to $ USD4 million in one year.
Because of her relentlessness, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority is now one of the fastest-growing entities in Liberia.
Unfortunately, her critics have now taken the trend of politicizing her progress and crafting unrealistic allegations, to satisfy their selfish personal aggrandizement. As many have spotted already, the recent attack on Madam Glassco’s character has already proven itself as proxy war, geared toward undermining her commitment to secure her space at NaFAA.
As the reality continues to appear to their faces, getting rid of Emma Metieh Glassco from her current post at NaFAA is only possible if the President feels comfortable acting on the contraryof the Act that created the institution, which makes it a four-year tenure position. Interestingly, she has only exhausted two out of the four years of her second term. Madam Glassco was initially appointed in 2018, Following the climax of her first term, she was reappointed by President George Weah in 2022.
Section 3.4 (2) of the Act that established the National Fisheries and Aquaculture of Liberia, provide that the Director General shall hold office for a term of four (4) years, which may be renewed for one additional term of four (4) years and no more.
It says: “The Appointment of the Director General 1) On the recommendation of the Board, the President shall appoint a Director- General with the consent of the Senate, who shall hold an advanced degree from a recognized university in: a. natural resources or environmental management, development or sdence; b. fisheries studies, aquaculture studies, including fisheries or aquaculture governance, management, development or science; c. oceanography;or d. any other area which the Board is satisfied is relevant, to the position, and has at least seven years of experience in a senior management position.”
U.S. acknowledged Glassco’s progress at NaFFA
In August 2022, the United States State Department recognized efforts by the Authorities of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) to restore Liberia’s fisheries to their pre-war status. In the US State Department 2022 report on Liberia, it was indicated that “the fishing industry, long dormant compared to pre-war levels, is making improvements that should make it more attractive for investment.”
It came in the wake of tremendous reforms and the establishment of improved investment and legal regimes by the Government of Liberia through the management of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority to make the sector attractive.
A comment in the Executive summary of the Report is a clear indication that “much has been done to transform the Liberian fisheries sector that has enormous investment opportunities for economic development”.
The US State Department report also indicated that despite the numerous investment challenges in Liberia, the Country is rich in natural resources and has large expanses of potentially productive agricultural land and abundant rainfall to sustain agribusinesses.
This statement according to a NaFAA press release, substantiates NaFAA’s previous calls for Liberians and International investors to take advantage of the unmatched potential for investment opportunities in the Liberian Fisheries.
In April 2021, Liberia, through NaFAA signed two cardinal projects with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to strengthen the West African country’s fisheries sector. The country’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) said the expected outcome of the ‘Livelihood Empowerment of Women in Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) during and after COVID-19’ project is aimed at ensuring food security and poverty reduction.
Another project titled ‘Assessment of Sea Cucumber Fisheries along the coast in Liberia’ aims to create a sea cucumber management plan which will be reportedly the first of its kind in the Gulf of Guinea.
In May 2023, the Government of Liberia(GoL), under Madam Emma Metieh Glassco the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), disclosed that it was sourcing an additional $ 5 million United States dollars for the establishment of a Regional Center of Excellence for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences to be hosted in Liberia. “The Government of Liberia is sourcing an additional 5 million dollars for the establishment of the Regional Center of Excellence for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences to be hosted here in Liberia.”
In March 2022, the Management of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) disclosed that it received funding of USS$1.2 million from the World Bank to introduce a fisheries science degree program at the University of Liberia.
In February, 2023, Madam Emma Metieh Glassco came under the spotlight of the World Maritime University after years of high-level transformation she brought to the Liberian Fisheries sector under the CDC led government since her appointment in 2018.
Authorities of the World Maritime University Thursday February 23, 2023 recognized the Liberian Maritime and Fisheries Professional Emma Glassco and several other alumnae of the University for the positive impact they brought to their various countries maritime and fisheries sectors since their graduation.
A dispatched from the World Maritime University stated that Madam Emma Metieh Glassco and other outstanding and efficient alumnae of the institution. The World Maritime University moreover stated that they have brought pride and exhibited the knowledge learnt from the University since they honorable graduated.
On July 29, 2023, the University of Liberia (UL) and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) broke grounds for the construction of a Regional Center of Excellence for Fishery Science and Governance at UL. This was also followed by the inclusion of fisheries courses in the University’s curriculum.
In August 2023, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authorities (NaFAA) commissioned a comprehensive fish stock assessment with the sole purpose of developing a management plan that would inform fisheries authorities on fish resources in Liberia’s territorial waters and the number of vessels to be lessened to fish.
The comprehensive fish stock assessment, which is the first of its kind initiated by the fisheries authorities, is expected to attract investors for industrial fishing activities to create jobs and generate more revenues for the country.
In January of this year, the long-publicized commissioning ceremony of the Moroccan research vessel to conduct scientific fish stock assessment on Liberian waters to place at the Bong Mines Pier near the freeport of Monrovia on Bushrod Island with huge attendance from local and international guests.
The National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) was created by an Act of National Legislation on October 9, 2017. It functions as a fully-fledged autonomous body under the Public Authorities Law of the Republic of Liberia. NaFAA has its roots in the erstwhile Bureau of National Fisheries, which operated as a unit within the Department of Technical Services of the Ministry of Agriculture from 1956 to 2017.
NaFAA’s overall fisheries sector goal is: Sustainably managed and economically viable fisheries that generate prosperity for the present and generations yet unborn.
In order to facilitate the attainment of the overarching vision of the sector, Government, as essential operational actions, will promote: an improved institutional and legislative framework for fisheries management; adaptive research; community and stakeholder participation in capture and culture-based fisheries management and development; effective international, regional, sub-regional and bilateral cooperation for fisheries management; enhanced monitoring, control, and surveillance capabilities; and improve fish quality and value addition technologies for enhanced economic returns in fisherie.
