Wilfred Enow Agbor
Yaounde, Cameroun
As a means to intensify bilateral cooperation in the air transport sector and to conform with the view of the African Civil Aviation Commission, an air transport convention has been signed between the Republic of Cameroon and the Republic of Gambia.
Professor Robert Nkili, Minister of Transport representing Cameroon and Hon Abdoulie Sallah, Secretary at the Presidency of the Republic of Gambia, signed the convention to encourage regional integration and foster direct flights between Douala or Yaoundé and Banjul.
Robert Nkili (Left) hands over a portrait of souvenir to Hon Sallah Abdoulie
Professor Robert Nkili told iCameroon that the signing of the air transport convention concludes a process which started long ago between President Paul Biya of the Republic of Cameroon and Yahya Jammeh, President of The Republic of Gambia in Banjul.
In the past, it could take about 7 hours or more to get to Banjul from Cameroon. Any one making such a journey had numerous transits on the way before getting to destination. With this signed convention, there will be ease of travel and the transportation of good and services between the two nations. However, the cost of the air ticket will be determined by both the Cameroon Airlines Corporation (Camairco) and the Gambia Airlines involved in the transportation.
Hon Abdoulie Sallah expressed gratitude for the hospitality offered him and his delegation by the government of Cameroon. He said that the air transport convention seals up a memorandum of understanding which was signed by both countries in April 2007 with the intention to enforce bilateral cooperation.
He reiterated that African Union whose goal stands at regional integration, decided in 1988 that air transport be liberalized throughout the African continent to enable easy transportation. This decision was later enforced in the year 2000 in Togo. It is therefore clear that both countries are leaving up to expectation.
The ceremony ended as Professor Robert Nkili offered a painting bearing the names of the two countries, an exclusive map of Cameroon and CamairCo Airbus to Hon Adoulie Sallah which to him will serve as a souvenir.
