It is an established fact that, when put in leadership positions, most women can perform equally as their male counterparts, if not better.

With four dynamic and hardworking women at the helm of affairs in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, led by the Minister, Madam, Princess Dugba, with support from her Deputy, Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara,  Permanent Secretary, Elizabeth Hawa Ellie, Director of Fisheries, Kahdijatu Jalloh and other qualified administrative and technical staff, the Ministry continues to make tremendous gains in terms of rebranding and transforming the sector into an enviable entity with the ability to attract a good number of reputable local and International partners.

After a long-drawn struggle to put in place, plausible reforms for effective and efficient service delivery, the ministry has succeeded in obtaining an International Fish Export Certificate from the People’s Republic of China.

The certificate was granted, following the signing of the protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements, a reliable pathway that would enable Sierra Leone export fish and fishery products direct to China.

Receiving the certificate at a ceremony, organized on the margins of the 9th Forum on China- Africa Cooperation, FOCAC in Beijing, China, the Minister of Fisheries, Princess Dugba, while underscoring the importance of the certificate, lamented the high rate at which the country was losing much needed revenue in the fish value chain as a result of lack of access to international markets.

The Fish Export Certificate, she noted, would unlock new opportunities for direct fish trade between Sierra Leone and China.

The Minister, assured her audience, including, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to China, Abu Bakarr Karim and other dignitaries, that her ministry would do it’s utmost to enforce all necessary hygiene and sanitary requirements for risk assessment of fish and fishery products.

On behalf of government, she expressed profound appreciation for the gesture and thanked the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wang Qing and staff for their support in expediting the process.

Mrs. Dugba disclosed plans to engage the Embassy in Freetown and FAO in relation to the launching of a School Fish Farming Project, aimed at boosting the country’s fisheries sector.

By Max A Konneh

Media Coordinator, MFMR