Mahamadou Bonkoungou, CEO of the EBOMAF Group: "The construction of a road is far from resourcefulness"

Following the launch ceremony of the rehabilitation of the Kissidougou-Kankan road, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the EBOMAF Group gave an interview to the media. The owner of the successful company places the stakes of this road project and goes back to EBOMAF's strengths in carrying out major works.

What are your impressions after this ceremony to launch the Kissidougou-Kankan works which your company, EBOMAF, is responsible for?

Mahamadou Bonkoungou (M.B.):We take this ceremony to launch the work of the Kissidougou-Kankan road to express our gratitude to the President of the Republic of Guinea, Professor Alpha Condé, who spares no effort to strengthen and spread African integration. Through EBOMAF, Burkina Faso is now in Guinea. We are very proud as Africans to take part in the country's major development projects by bringing our stone to the national construction work of President Alpha Condé. It is the place to reassure the Guinean population in general and that of the municipalities of Kankan and Kissidougou in particular that EBOMAF will play its full part in the execution of this road project by making every effort to succeed in the construction of a high quality road. This book will not look like any path already made in Guinea. We promise a road infrastructure with a lifespan of about 40 years. EBOMAF is an internationally renowned company. It has proven its worth in several countries in the sub-region. Our company has built several hundred kilometers of asphalt roads in Burkina Faso. We are present in Togo where we carry out several infrastructures. EBOMAF also asserts itself in the major works in Benin. We will soon be in Côte d'Ivoire.

How did you welcome President Alpha Condé's remarks at his meeting at the stadium M的Balou-Mady-Diakité: "EBOMAF was chosen neither by favouritism nor by friendship for its CEO. We have only based ourselves on the competence of this company after it submitted technical and financial offers which convinced the award commission. We will remain vigilant with regard to the implementation of this road project, which is very important to us."

M.B.:The Kissidougou-Kankan contract was awarded following an open international tender by the Guinean government. We believe that our choice is based on the relevance of our technical and financial proposals. As President Alpha Condé pointed out, there was no favouritism anywhere. On the contrary, the Guinean authorities keep reminding us of our responsibility for the success of a project that is of particular interest to them. EBOMAF is aware of the issue. She has always relied on her competence and experience as the best guarantees of competitiveness. We will work to earn the trust placed in us by the Guinean authorities. We want to distinguish ourselves in Guinea as a model company. The implementation of the Kissidougou-Kankan road is a new challenge for our company and we will meet it to the general satisfaction. There is not today a civil engineering activity that EBOMAF cannot carry out. No work from the RN 6 project is foreign to us. We had already built bridges and carriageways of various characteristics. Through visits to our yards or works already carried out, the Guinean authorities have realized our expertise and are convinced of it. We have the necessary human resources and equipment and adequate facilities to meet the requirements of any type of road project, regardless of its size.

Is the equipment exposed at the launch intended solely for the Kissidougou-Kankan yard? Or will it be used for other work?

M.B.:Each EBOMAF site enjoys material autonomy. The vehicles that were exposed at the launch ceremony represent part of the machinery ordered and intended solely for the rehabilitation of the Kissidougou-Kankan road. Other equipment as well as the construction site installations (carriers, concrete and clad) will follow as the construction site expands. If Guinea sometimes gives us another road to build, other machines will be ordered for this new site. It must be obvious that the construction of a road is not resourceful. We must be able to rely on substantial human, material and technical resources to produce quality works. EBOMAF can boast of being an example in this respect.

Interview by JE