The Regional Africa Satellite Communication Organization
(RASCOM), Ag. Director-General, Timothy Nii Adi Ashong has paid a working visit
to the office of the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Libom Li Likeng
nee Mendomo Minette.
The purpose of the visit was to bolster relations between
RASCOM and Cameroon, a proud member of the esteemed organization.
In her brief welcoming address, the Minister stressed the
importance of the member states investing in RASCOM to enhance its operational
capabilities. She emphasized the need for African member states to proactively
channel resources into RASCOM, enabling the continent to exercise greater
control over its digital communication landscape.
Currently, foreign satellites dominate the African skies, prompting the
minister to advocate for a paradigm shift towards self-reliance.
"Africa must be able to manage
its own traffic internally," Madam Likeng stated firmly. "We have
foreign satellites scattered across our skies, and it's imperative that we
consolidate our efforts and resources to establish RASCOM as a vital instrument
for safeguarding our data security and managing our communication traffic
within the continent,"
she said.
Expanding on her vision, Minister Likeng proposed that
Africa should venture into the thriving business of launching Non-Geostationary
Satellite Orbits (NGSOs), a strategic move that would contribute to Africa's
technological sovereignty and bolster its presence on the global state.
In a passionate plea for continental cooperation, the
Minister of Posts and Telecommunications asserted, "For Africa's holistic
development, we must collectively shoulder the responsibility. As the
fastest-growing economy on the continent, it's incumbent upon us to unite our
efforts in enhancing the well-being of our people. RASCOM serves as the optimal
platform for us to forge an alliance that bridges the digital divide and brings
connectivity to those who remain unconnected.
Responding to the minister's call for collaboration, Mr. Adi
Ashong reiterated his commitment to fostering stronger ties between RASCOM and
Cameroon.
He assured the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications of
RASCOM's strong support in Cameroon's satellite activities, reaffirming the
organization's dedication to nurturing a robust partnership that serves the
collective interests of African nations.
By: Kanto Okanta