WAICA is an international association of insurance companies and institutions in English speaking West Africa.
It was formed in 1973 by insurance institutions in the five English speaking West African countries which include The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria, with approval of their respective governments.
Representing President Bio (who was unavoidably absent) as Guest Speaker during the opening ceremony of the conference, Sierra Leone’s Finance Minister Jacob Jusu Saffa, frowned on the decision of African countries using their state insurance companies to fight private insurance companies.
Mr. Saffa further admonished African governments to focus on developing the insurance industry in Africa. According to him, the support from African leaders will help in the improvement of the continent’s economy.
The Finance Minister however pledged the support of the Sierra Leone government to the insurance industry. He requested insurance companies to summit development policies to the national budget.
Delegates from Liberia and other West African states who attended the conference lauded the organizers and stated that the conference has the ability of shifting the mind of insurers, which according them, has the propensity to inspire development in the insurance industry.
At the close of the conference, WAICA announced its new leadership, with a Sierra Leonean, Raymond Macauley emerging as President, replacing former President Makaireh Badjan, Ivorian and a Liberian, Councilor Saye Gbalazeh serving as Vice President.
Other eminent personalities that graced the event included William B. Coker, Kofi Ampaw, Saye Gbalazah, Raymond Macauley, Maikarah Baijan, Nathaniel Yaskey, the Nigeria High Commissioner, Dr. Habiss I Ugbada, Edwin Ibbiti among several others.