AfriCan Geopardy

In this episode of African Geopardy, we explore "The Importance of the Upcoming Election and Fisheries Transparency for the Future of Ghana's Fishing Sector" with Dr Kamal-Deen Ali, Team Leader at the Centre for Maritime Law and Security (CEMLAWS) Africa. Drawing from his extensive experience in ocean governance, maritime security, and international law, Dr Ali shares the crucial role of Ghana's fisheries sector in national development. He discusses the importance of transparency in fisheries management and the policies and reforms the next government should prioritise for sustainability. Furthermore, he emphasises why fisheries issues should be a central focus in the upcoming election. Whether you are a voter, a policymaker, or simply passionate about Ghana's fisheries, this episode provides compelling reasons to understand why fisheries matter and why citizens should demand accountability and progress in this vital sector as they make their votes count. Tune in for an insightful discussion on shaping the future of Ghana's fishing sector!

In this month's episode of AfriCan Geopardy, the research team from Dr Ife Okafor-Yarwood’s PEW Fellowship Project "Creating Synergies between Indigenous Practices and Scientific Knowledge (ISIPSK)" share their reflections following a month-long field research experience. The episode was recorded on July 30th to capture the team's insights and highlight the significance of collaborative research. You will hear from several discussants, including Mrs Josephine Asare, a PhD student involved in the research, Mr Kwesi Johnson, Mr Nana Kweigyah, Mr Kenneth Arthur, Mr Gabriel Mevuta and Mr Emmanuel Tenkorang. Throughout the conversation, the participants shared their experiences from the field, highlighting the benefits of collaborative research, especially involving people directly affected by the issues researched as part of the research and data collection process. Enjoy and please do share. #Sankofa #Gobackandretrieveit #Knowledgecoproduction

In this month's episode of African Geopardy, we discussed "The strategic role of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) in advancing maritime safety and security". Our guest, Dr Paul Adalikwu, the Secretary General of MOWCA, shared his extensive knowledge and experience on the topic. During the discussion, we explored MOWCA's strategic role in addressing threats to navigation and security and its ambitious vision to become a continental organization with representation from other regions. We covered topics ranging from countering security threats to improving navigation safety in the Gulf of Guinea and effectively addressing obstacles. Whether you are interested in maritime safety and security or simply curious about efforts to enhance navigation safety, this is an episode you will not want to miss! Thanks for tuning in. #AfriCan!

Welcome to AfriCan Geopardy. In this episode, we discussed "Improving Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region" with Mr Hassani Ahamada Soilihi, a lawyer and maritime expert from the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). Mr. Soilihi played a key role in introducing the "Safe Seas for Africa" programme, and at the IOC, he has been instrumental in advancing IOC projects focused on oil spill response, fisheries law reform, and environmental concerns. During our discussion, we explored the complex challenges of maritime insecurity in the Western Indian Ocean region and the ongoing efforts to improve maritime domain awareness (MDA) and legal enforcement. We discussed the various constraints in this area, including issues such as over-internationalization and the duplication of responses. Additionally, we looked into the changes necessary for sustained progress, including specific actions or changes that the African Union can implement to address these issues in a new and effective way. The link below provides more information about the IOC's work to strengthen maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean Region. https://www.commissionoceanindien.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020_PolicyBrief_web_en.pdf

Tune in to the latest episode of AfriCan Georpady, where we discuss “How YARIS Contributes to Better Maritime Domain Awareness and Security in the Gulf of Guinea and Plans for the Handover of Ownership and Management System to the Region” with Mr. Sam Megwa, the Strategic Director of the EU Gulf of Guinea Interregional Network (GoGIN). In this episode, Mr Sam introduces our listeners to the Yaoundé Architecture Regional Information System (YARIS) platform. He shares success stories and explains how the system is designed to monitor future threats such as terrorism and undersea cable threats. Most importantly, he discussed the plans for regional handover and how this can be achieved. Additionally, he covers other information-sharing tools outside the region, such as MDAT-GoG and ICC/IMB, and how they can work better with the regional centres. Happy listening, and please share youlin thoughts! To learn more about YARIS check the link below: https://yaris.site/en/yaris-platform/ The links below provide more information about how technological tools, including the YARIS system, are helping countries in the Gulf of Guinea improve maritime domain awareness and security. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X23005092 https://theconversation.com/west-africas-coast-was-a-haven-for-piracy-and-illegal-fishing-how-technology-is-changing-the-picture-222803