Fourth ordinary session of the Steering Committee of the Air Safety Supervision Agency for Central Africa (ASSA-AC) in Cameroon
Five out of six member states took part in the meeting from August 08-10 2019, at the premises of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) in Douala, alongside representatives of the CEMAC committee and staff of ASSA-AC, CEMAC's Specialized Institution in Douala.
The purpose of the meeting was to validate the draft budget for the 2020 financial year and to decide on certain aspects relating to the functioning of this institution.
Indeed, in accordance with CEMAC procedures, the draft budgets of institutions, specialized institutions, bodies and enforcement agencies are pre-validated by their respective statutory bodies, before their presentations to the CEMAC budget conference. These will later be validated by the Community Parliament
The members of the Steering Committee also discussed and exchanged discussions on other issues such as: the progress of the decisions of the last Committee of Ministers, the midterm report on the implementation of the 2019 action plan, the development of the Director General's route, the operation of ASSA-AC, the report of the Financial Controller 2018, the approval of the 2018 financial statements, and the implementation of the budget on 31 May 2019.It is noteworthy that the concern of the heads of states of CEMAC to identify the needs and expectations of national airlines and to propose ideal solutions was also mentioned.
In his opening address, ASSA-AC Director General Mr KIAPO Alexandre François appreciated the support that member states give to their integration tool, ASSA-AC.
The Director General of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority and chair of the steering Committee, unable to be there due to other important commitments, was represented by Mr. BELINGA ETOUNDI Laurent, head of the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Transport. Speaking at the meeting, he recalled the purpose of the ASSA-AC, which is to participate in the development of air transport in our sub-region in order to facilitate the movement of people, goods and services.
According to him, air transport’s capacity to foster economic development makes it necessary to strengthen the missions of ASSA-AC by creating the conditions to facilitate the establishment of an internal single aviation market, creating a level playing field, ensuring the implementation of a single regulatory and certification process, ensuring a high common level of environmental protection and safeguarding shared, top levels of aviation safety for its citizens and property.
It should be noted that the Douala session was held after the January session in Ndjamena. And, the validated draft budget will be submitted to the CEMAC budget conference scheduled for next September.
