By: Fatou Krubally
In a bid to deepen bilateral relations, the Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, hosted his Guinea-Bissau counterpart, Minister of Social Communication Florentino Fernando Dias, in Banjul on Monday. The working visit coincided with The Gambia’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
During a joint press conference, Dr. Ceesay emphasized the long-standing historical and cultural ties between The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, calling for enhanced collaboration in media, trade, and tourism. “This visit is very symbolic. Our countries share deep-rooted bonds, and it is time to take our cooperation to the next level,” he said.
The ministers discussed drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between their respective state broadcasters. The agreement will facilitate content exchange, technical expertise sharing, and capacity building. “It is important for the people of Bissau to see what is happening in The Gambia and vice versa. This will also serve our diasporas, fostering mutual understanding,” Dr. Ceesay added.
Minister Dias echoed the sentiment, stressing the importance of media in strengthening diplomatic ties. “Through our two media platforms, we can promote tourism, trade, and cultural exchange between our nations,” he said. He also extended an invitation to Dr. Ceesay to visit Guinea-Bissau to further cement cooperation efforts.
The discussions also touched on digital transformation, with both ministers agreeing to exchange knowledge on transitioning from analog to digital broadcasting. They acknowledged the financial and technical challenges involved but expressed optimism about overcoming them through joint efforts.
Beyond media collaboration, the ministers highlighted the potential for increased trade between the two countries. While the cashew nut industry has been a major point of exchange, they noted that other economic opportunities remain untapped. “Each country has resources the other needs. Our role is to showcase these opportunities so businesses can take advantage,” Dr. Ceesay stated.
Concluding the briefing, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties and using communication as a tool for regional integration. “If Africa is to integrate, it must start with neighbors like The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal,” Dr. Ceesay noted.
Minister Dias expressed gratitude for the warm reception and pledged to take lessons learned from The Gambia’s media sector back to Guinea-Bissau. “This visit has been invaluable. We will build on this momentum to create a stronger, united front for our people,” he said.
