Africa: AU to establish African space agency

  1. Posted on Monday 9 August 2010 - 10:50
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    John Afful Jnr, AfricaNews reporter in Takoradi, Ghana
    Ministers in charge of Communications and Information Technologies in Africa have commenced a process that would lead to the establishment of a regional space agency in cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The project which would be known as the African Space Agency is aimed at focusing on the development of common space policy for the African continent.
    satellite
    In a statement, AU Ministers agreed to work jointly with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to finalise action on the draft convention on cyber legislation and support its implementation in member-states.

    In furtherance to the statement, the AU would coordinate with the International Telecommunications Union and with all development partners to continue activities on harmonisation of policy and regulations in Africa based on the platform created by HIPSSA project.

    Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan told newsmen during the opening of the conference that the African continent still needs to do a lot to bridge the gap between knowledge and technology if it must achieve rapid and sustained economic, social and human development on the continent.

    "Our information and communication technology strategies and policies as well as regulatory frameworks still need to be harmonized to enable us reap the full benefits of this development", he said.

    Jonathan urged all delegates from African Union member countries at the conference to channel their focus on development and application of broadband and improvement in internet services to accelerate development in areas of national security, e-governance, tele-medicine, public safety and education.

    The conference resolved to integrate the NEPAD e-Africa Commission governance into the governance structure of CITMC and provide support to member states in implementing the e-Post programme in cooperation with stakeholders.

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