EBOMAF-BF: Prime Minister Christophe Marie Joseph Dabiré is pleased with the progress of the Contouring

Prime Minister Christophe Marie Joseph Dabiré visited the construction site of the North-South Bypass of Ouagadougou on the evening of Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Accompanied by the Ministers of Infrastructure, Eric Bougma, and of Urban Planning and Housing, Dieudonné Bonanet, the Prime Minister reviewed the work carried out on this 125 km project, financed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) estimated at 181 billion CFA francs.

Launched on October 30, 2018, by the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, the work officially began on October 1, 2019, the date of the signing of the service agreement. In just eight (8) months of execution, the overall completion rate has reached 41%, with a target of thirty-six (36) months, excluding the rainy season.

After describing the project as emblematic, the Head of Government expressed his admiration for the progress made and, above all, the resources deployed. “I am very pleased to see that the work is progressing. I would like to congratulate the company on the quality of the work done, especially for the fact that it is making excellent progress despite the difficulties it is encountering. It is important that we, at the government level, consider what solutions we can offer to those affected by the project to prevent these difficulties from hindering the company from completing the work on time,” declared Christophe Marie-Joseph Dabiré.

Despite the company's achievements, it continues to face constraints that are hindering its momentum. The Chairman and CEO, Mahamadou Bonkoungou, took the opportunity to outline some of these difficulties. “They are related to updating the implementation study. The study dates back to 2008, with implementation planned for 2020. Twelve years have passed. During the implementation phase, we encountered uncontrolled occupation not only by local residents but also by cemeteries, resulting in unforeseen costs. There is also a technical deficiency in the study, suggesting underestimations of the required quantities,” he noted.

The Prime Minister promised to address the issues raised promptly: “I will instruct the Minister of Infrastructure to consult with the Minister of Finance to determine what measures can be taken to compensate those still living within the project's footprint and allow the company to move forward.”

The second reason I'm here on this construction site is that it's a flagship project that reflects the President of Burkina Faso's vision for the development of our city, the capital, Ouagadougou. It aims to improve internal traffic flow, ensure greater safety for the people of Ouagadougou, and prevent large trucks from continuing to cross the city with all the risks that entails.

JESP