Accra, Feb 02, GNA - The Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem (GCLME) Project, aimed at combating fisheries depletion, water pollution and public health challenges was transformed into an interim Commission in Accra on Friday.

The new corporate image: 93Interim Guinea Current Commission (IGCC)" would enhance the objectives of the GCLME to assist the 16 countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea, to overcome challenges of population and urbanization, land use planning among other priorities. Mr Kwadwo Mpianim, Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs, launched the new name, which was the maiden step towards the status of a full commission on behalf of President John Agyekum Kufuor. He also launched the scientific underpinnings and technical rationale for the creation of the IGCC, known as Transboundary Diagnosis Analysis (TDA) and inaugurated a secretariat for IGCC, named after Dr Kenneth Sherman, the originator of the GCLME Project. Mr Mpianim commended the strenuous efforts of the pioneers of the GCLME project to arrest the degradation of the environment. "We have all championed the course of this project mainly due to the transboundary environmental threat which has resulted in the careful prosecution of the Work Plan, which has resulted in the commissioning of the IGCC."

Mr Mpianim lauded all international organizations especially the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO); United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other stakeholders who have made the Project a success.

UNIDO assisted the formation of GCLME Project, which was transformed into the IGCC at Abuja in September 2006 at its first meeting of Ministers of Environment and Fisheries from member countries. It was in line with a key recommendation contained in the Johannesburg Plan of Action for the goals and targets defined at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).

Professor Chidi Ibe, Regional Director GCLME and Executive Secretary of the IGCC, said the rationale behind IGCC was in view of the urgent actions needed to reverse the continual depletion of natural resources and the degradation of the coastal and marine environment within the Region.

Professor Ibe commended Dr Sherman, Director of US NOAA, who was the special guest at ceremony, for originating the Large Marine Concept, which has revolutionalised marine, environmental and living resource management across the globe.

In a related development, the fourth Regional Steering Committee Meeting of the GCLME began in Accra on Friday to adopt and approve the work plan for 2007.

Mr Daniel Dugan, Deputy Minister of Fisheries, who addressed the meeting, asked the participants to seek the support of their political leaders in order to combat the depletion of natural resources and coastal area degradation through the ecosystem management approach. 2 Feb. 07