By Sahr Ibrahim Komba
For the last two days, experts in the aviation industry across Africa met in Freetown to discuss the advancement of the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM)
Welcoming delegates in Freetown, Director General of Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) Musayeroh Barrie said that the wish for a united and connected Africa is no longer a dream but a reality.
She explained that SAATM will create jobs for the people, pointing out that together they can transform the air force Africa.
Fanday Turay, Minister of Transport and Aviation said that Sierra Leone has been a pioneering state of the Yamoussoukro declaration of 1988 for the liberalization of the African Air Space which will act as a catalyst for the continent economic immigration, highlighting the successfully examples of Kenya and Ethiopia.
He emphasised that Aviation can serve as major enhancement for economic growth and can open the sky and foster competition.
Fanday noted that their goal is to achieve 100% ICAO approved safety standard and that recently, Sierra Leone leaped from 18% to 72%.
He said that through their collective efforts, they can achieve a single airspace market.
Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General of Africa Civil Aviation Commission said that their main objective is to engage with all of the participants on the best way they can use air transport to create new opportunities in trade and travel through the countries that will enhance the economy
She noted that the presence of the Members of the coalition is a demonstration of their collective resolve for air transport across Africa to engage and to work together in practical ways to eliminate challenges, urging all to join hands together in the implementation of SAATM.
Coordinator of SAATM said that Free movement of people across Africa is possible, noting that the European and the Americans have done it.
He said that SAATM will bring the economic opportunities as they are in Freetown to free themselves.
In opening the conference, the Chief Minister, David Moinina explained that they have heard stories that do not make sense in which people have to go further up north to be able to come down south in Africa. He said that it wasn’t by chance that Sierra Leone moves forward in the security ratings of ICAO from 18% to 68%.
He said that they will leave no stone unturned in the implementation of the Single Aviation Policy. The Conference ended yesterday 30 July 2024.
