A high-level delegation from Liberia concluded its official tour with a final stop at the AGL (Africa Global Logistics) office in Freetown on Friday. The visit marked the culmination of a week-long regional engagement aimed at strengthening trade and logistics ties between Liberia and neighboring countries.
Port Director in Liberia Jonathan L. Kaipe described the tour as an important assessment visit adding that they were invited to do a feasibility visit that will showcase what they are currently doing,their capacity is, and what are the capabilities of intervening in the sector.
He said AGL is an agent at the Port and AGL has some sub-regional experience and connections both in Sierra Leone and Guinea.
“So this is basically an assessment tour, and we’ve been to Guinea, Conakry, we are now in Freetown, and of course we feel very free. Well, we’ve been able to assess the port in Conakry and we also saw the seaport and the terminals.
He said during the tour they saw the different installations, marine equipment and also saw the human capacity development.
“For instance, here in Sierra Leone, we understand that out of the 350 workers plus here, almost all of them are Sierra Leonean, so it shows ownership. It shows that this is something that they have been training so that you can manage.
We’ve been able to review the bill operating train (BOT) over in Conakry and we saw here the concessions that is between the government of Sierra Leone and the AGL” he said.
He maintained that the history between Sierra Leone and Liberia therefore it is good that they are importing some ideas either in Liberia or into Sierra Leone “And so our being here is certified that we can learn from each other. If you can do it better, we can learn from it and if we can do it better, we can share that”
Austin Taylor, Chair of Port and Maritime Affairs in the Liberian House of Representatives, said their visit to Sierra Leone was as part of a regional port assessment tour, including Guinea to showcase their capabilities in Sierra Leone and other West African countries.
He said the purpose is to inform a bill in Liberia to autonomize its ports, specifically the Port of Buchanan, which AGL is interested in operating.
Taylor expresses being impressed with AGL’s operations in Sierra Leone, highlighting the potential for economic growth, employment, and skills development.
He emphasizes the desire to learn from Sierra Leone’s port management and replicate its success in Liberia, particularly in human resources development, for mutual prosperity.
He explained that Liberia is seriously considering autonomizing its ports and is looking to AGL as a potential operator for the Port of Buchanan. He said so far the delegation is impressed with AGL’s operations in Sierra Leone and sees it as a model for Liberia .
He said they aimed to replicate Sierra Leone’s port management practices, especially in human resources, to foster economic growth and development.
Magdalen Cooper, the senior political advisor to the President of Liberia, said their visit is to observe the work of AGL (likely a company or organization involved in development or infrastructure projects).
She was impressed by AGL’s work and the level of investment, expressing excitement about the possibility of AGL working in Liberia. She said she plans to report her findings to the President and advocate for a partnership between Liberia and AGL.On his part,, the Regional Director for AGL in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia Captain Fabjanko Kokan confirmed that his office recently visited Guinea Conakry, to share their experience to share their achievements with them adding that one of the main target is to work together.
“In life everything is possible if there is a good willing, cooperation, partnership, understanding, tolerance, empathy.
There is nothing wrong to share our experience, whether we are going to partner, whether we are going to help”
