The Minister of Communication was satisfied with the progress of work in Douala on June 4, 2016.

“The CRTV mast under construction will go operational in August; few months to the start of the much-awaited Female African Cup of Nations, AFCON,” Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, made the promise after visiting the site in Logbessou, Doaual, on June 4, 2016. The construction of the 200-metre-tall mast by a Chinese firm is near completion.

The Chinese construction firm that completed the tower before the June 15, 2016 deadline will begin the second phase, which is the installation of radio frequency material and related systems for the mast to go operational. While in Logbessou, Issa Tchiroma Bakary expressed satisfaction with work.

He told journalists that during his last inspection visit about three weeks ago, the tower’s height was 115 metres gone. “They have not only completed the intended height of 200 metres, but have done it before the deadline,” he disclosed.

While expressing hope that Cameroonians working with the Chinese on the tower will tap from their experience, he spoke of the State’s willingness to send Cameroonians abroad to study tower building techniques.

“It will be needless to bring expertise from outside when the need to build such towers in Cameroon exists,” he said. Theophilus Salifu Chia, CRTV’s Central Director for Broadcasting, disclosed that the mast dimension was bigger and was constructed with bigger pipes, unlike the previous that collapsed in 2014.

Good maintenance, he added, will increase the over 50-year lifespan of the structure constructed some 50 metres above sea level. It is worth noting that the FCFA 110 billion President Paul Biya disbursed for revamping the CRTV is also being used to erect the mast.

In the presence of the Secretary General in the Littoral Governor’s office, Ludovic Ngbwa and the Deputy General Manager of CRTV, Francis Wete, Minister Tchiorma frowned at the unlawful settlement of some villagers around the mast, saying it was dangerous to their health.