ARGO WORKSHOP: CLOSING REMARK

By

Regina Folorunsho

Ladies and gentlemen.

It gives me great pleasure to give the closing remarks after three days
of intensive workshop. When we started to plan this workshop we faced
several obstacles like funding, national and international,
institutional support and above all uncertainty with regards attendance
from both international and national scientific institutions and bodies.
I am exceedingly happy to see that we overcame all these hurdles and
successfully held this important workshop. You will agree with me that
this workshop is unique for this region because of the level of
involvement of the global regional and international community.

At the opening ceremony, the objectives of this workshop were spelt out
which I am sure you will agree with me, have been met.

From here onwards we have to move on with our other colleagues in other
parts of the world where Argo is on going. In order to ensure that this
region does not lag behind in the Argo activities we need to now
formulate concrete strategies to implement Argo. These strategies will
have to take the following into consideration:

-   Low level communication infrastructure

-   Low level local funding for scientific meetings, research and
    travels.

Though these problems have issues of concern, I am positive that ARGO in
West Africa will move on with the modest funds and facilities that will
be made available by this project.

STRATEGIES THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FOR ARGO

1.  Improve communication (a lot has been outlined)

2.  Encourage participants to use Argo data, analyse, use for impact
    studies

3.  Get students to use Argo data for Ph.D thesis

4.  Train the trainers

5.  Follow-up meetings

Ladies and gentlemen, while this is not supposed to be a vote of thanks
I cannot end these remarks without thanking our sponsors, NOAA and START
for making this workshop a huge success through their financial support.

I will also like to thank Dr. Bob Molinari for planning the details of
this workshop and ensuring from a distance that all went well.

# The International Organizing Committee

Dr. Silvia Garzoli

Dr. Judy. Gray

Dr. Steven Piotrowicz

Mr. Mathiue Belbeoch

Dr. Claudia Schmid

Prof Chris Reason

Dr. Kabineh Konneh

Ms. L. Staegemann.

[Resource Persons]{.underline}

Dr. Howard Freeman

Dr. Thierry Carval

Dr. Sylwia Trzaska

You will all agree with me that the success of this workshop has also
been due to the excellent local arrangements made by the local
organising committee chaired by Mr. Armah. To all of you who worked hard
to make this workshop a success please accept on behalf of the
organisers our sincere appreciation.

To all participants, who have left their respective work at their home
laboratories, I thank you all for your cooperation and endurance during
this workshop. It is my hope that you will collaborate with each other
and the various International agencies especially in the implementation
of Argo project in the Atlantic side of Africa.

On behalf of the organisers I hope you will all go back to your
countries with the training and information you have received on ARGO
and ensure the successful implementation of ARGO activities in the
region and your respective countries.

I wish you all safe trip to your various countries and locations in
Ghana.