A five-day regional workshop (18-22 May) on flag State implementation has begun in Accra, Ghana, with 20 participants from eight countries (Capo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe and Sierra Leone). Participants will be guided through various aspects of flag State implementation, with a view to preparing countries for the forthcoming IMO mandatory Member State Audit Scheme. The workshop is being hosted by the Ghana Maritime Authority, as part of the ongoing EU/ACP programme to support the enhancement of human and institutional maritime capacities in west and central Africa. IMO's William Azuh, Head, Africa Anglophone Section, Technical Cooperation Division and Mr Dallas Laryea, IMO Regional Coordinator based in Accra, are facilitating the workshop.