The African Development Bank (AfDB) marked its 60th anniversary of partnership with Burkina Faso and financed not less than 120 projects in the country since its first intervention over 50 years ago.
On December 17, 2024, the AfDB’s office in Burkina Faso celebrated its 60th anniversary under the theme “60 Years Making a Difference.” Since its first intervention in 1970, the pan-African financial institution has financed about 120 projects in the country, totaling approximately 1.98 billion euros, according to the institution’s country representative, Daniel Ndoye.
The projects include the hydro-agricultural developments in Bagré and Léraba, the Kompienga hydroelectric dam, the rehabilitation of the Banfora-Gaoua-Batié road and the water supply project for Ouagadougou via the Ziga dam.
“As of November 30, 2024, the AfDB Group’s portfolio in Burkina Faso consisted of 22 projects, representing 762 million euros in commitments, in addition to the recently approved rehabilitation project for the Bobo Dioulasso-Banfora-Ivory Coast border road, valued at around 83.87 million euros,” said Ndoye during the ceremony presided over by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Aboubakar Nacanabo.
The event, attended by more than 200 guests, including diplomats, technical and financial partners, and civil society representatives.
The minister praised the Bank as a “strategic partner catalyst for transformation, and a symbol of African solidarity.”.
He also urged the institution to “reinvent itself” to enhance the impact of its interventions.
“60 years in our country, as in many others, is the age of retirement.
We do not want the African Development Bank to retire. We especially want it to demonstrate agility and flexibility,” he said.
ODL/sf/ac/lb/gik/APA