Monrovia, Liberia – Stakeholders of the Mano River Union (MRU) have commenced discussions toward the establishment of a Trans-boundary Water Basins Management Office, a regional body aimed at strengthening governance and promoting sustainable management of shared water resources within the sub-region.
Addressing participants at the gathering, ECOWAS Resident Representative to Liberia, Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, identified illegal mining and artificial fishing as major threats to water bodies across the Mano River basin and the wider West African sub-region.
She emphasized that the current discussions represent a critical step in implementing the 2008 Resolution on the promotion of three new trans-boundary basin organizations in West Africa.
The resolution was adopted during the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee, held in Bamako, Mali, on November 21, 2008.
The resolution’s original goal was to create a body that would only include the Cavally, Cestos, and Sassandra basins in the Mano River Union region. But after much discussion between ECOWAS and the MRU Secretariat, the concept changed to develop a more comprehensive mechanism that would include all transboundary basins under the MRU’s purview and could be completely incorporated into its institutional structure.
Ambassador Nkrumah reiterated ECOWAS’ adherence to the MRU’s goals, highlighting the group’s commitment to advancing shared prosperity, regional collaboration, and environmental sustainability. “We should safeguard our water bodies with passion in order to protect ourselves from diseases and food pollutions” she remarked.
Also speaking, Ama Gborie Foday, MRU Deputy Secretary-General for Economic Development and Regional Integration, described the meeting as a significant milestone in the region’s collective efforts to establish a sustainable and cooperative water governance framework.
“Our presence here today is testament to the strength of our regional solidarity and our mutual commitment to safeguarding one of our region’s most precious natural resources water,” Ambassador Foday said.
She explained that the initiative aligns with the Ouagadougou Declaration on Integrated Water Resources Management, the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan for IWRM, and the MRU’s strategic vision for cross-border environmental governance, regional integration, and resilience building.
Over the next two days, participants are expected to review and validate the preliminary drafts of the protocol, organic texts, administrative and financial procedures manual, and operationalization plan for the proposed Trans-boundary Water Management Office.
Madam Foday emphasized that stakeholder insights, feedback, and national perspectives will be vital to ensuring the final documents reflect both regional aspirations and country-specific realities.
Launching the conversation, Cllr. Eric B. Morlu, Chief Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, said the initiative aligns with Liberia’s National Development Plan (2025–2029), the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
He noted that the agenda prioritizes sustainable resource management, regional integration, and environmental stewardship as key drivers of inclusive growth and effective governance of Liberia’s shared water basins.
“We are not only protecting a critical ecosystem but also advancing regional resilience, food security, and livelihoods,” Cllr. Morlu added.
“The Government of Liberia remains committed to working with the MRU, ECOWAS, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in advancing regional sustainability.” he stressed.
