Monrovia- A day-long workshop for fishery technicians and other actors in the Liberian fisheries sector has ended in Monrovia.
A NaFAA press release Thursday, July 7, 2022 said it ended with a commitment by participants to demonstrate skills acquired in the maintenance of outboard engines donated by the Japanese Government to the Liberian government through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA).
The training was facilitated at NaFAA’s technical office right within the vicinity of the Mesurado Pier by YAMAHA Corporation, a Japanese based group, and CICA Motors – Liberia.
At the opening of the workshop, Mr. Augustine M. Manoballah, NaFAA’s Deputy Director General for Administration, encouraged participants to take advantage of the training.
Hon. Manoballah said NaFAA was not just interested in giving out outboard engines to fisherfolks, but saw it necessary to train beneficiaries for the proper maintenance and sustainability.
“We’re not just interested in giving you equipment without understanding the usage. We’re also keen on the issue of sustenance”.
“Because if you’re not properly equipped how to manage or repair them, when it starts to have problem, you may decide to take it to the wrong people”.
Deputy Director General Manoballah used the opportunity to laud the efforts of the Japanese Government and other partners for the training.
“We’re grateful to the people of Japan, CICA Motors, Grown Agents for the wonderful partnership”.
At the close of the training workshop, the participants extolled NaFAA and its’s partners for building their capacity. They expressed optimism that the knowledge gained will be used to properly manage and maintain machines given to them.
The nine coastal counties of Liberia were represented at the workshop by two persons each as few staff from NaFAA’s technical office also participated.
It can be recalled on October 23, 2021, President George Manneh Weah officially launched 420 pieces of Yamaha Outboard Engines in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. That followed the free distribution of the outboard engines to established fishery cooperatives across the nine coastal counties
The outboard engines were donated to NaFAA by the Japanese Government following a visit to Japan by President George Manneh Weah.