Côte d’Ivoire-2023 AFCON : an opportunity to meet the economic infrastructure challenge

By Issiaka N’guessan, Abidjan

As part of the preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in January 2024, a mission from the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure is visiting hotel facilities in the N’zi region (Dimbokro, Center-East). The cities chosen to host the matches are Abidjan, Yamoussoukro, Bouaké, Korhogo and San Pedro. They are all university towns in Côte d’Ivoire and regional capitals in full expansion. Having not hosted the competition since 1984, Côte d’Ivoire is keen to make the most of its spinoffs and has no shortage of assets. From Abidjan to Korhogo, the country has modern communications. The country’s airports make it easy to fly to any destination. The national airline, Air Côte d’Ivoire, operates daily flights to these destinations.

By road, a 563.5km tarmac road links the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire with the capital of the Savanes district. Several air-conditioned bus companies provide daily services. Next to Korhogo, Ferkéssedougou, 50km to the north-east, has a paved road and hotel complexes that can accommodate delegations.

In Bouaké, the country’s second largest city, as well as in Yamoussoukro, Abidjan and San Pedro, the country’s second largest port city, large hotel complexes have been built for tourism. The friendly people and varied cuisine are undeniable assets. As well as high class restaurants, there are the « maquis », a specialty of Côte d’Ivoire, where you can dine in an African atmosphere. The Ivorian government has decided to pull out all the stops for this African football showpiece event with a major renovation project.

Major works

In each of the cities, work is progressing against the clock on the AFCON housing estates, where delegations from other countries will be accommodated. Dozens of luxury villas have been built. A review of the number of beds available has led to the hotel facilities being brought up to standard. The Hôtel Président in Yamoussoukro, the Hôtel des Parlementaires in the political and administrative capital and the RAN Hotel in Bouaké are all in the public domain. Private hotels are also being renovated, as are the small reception facilities for the small staff of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan is under construction. The Ebimpé stadium, west of Abidjan, is being finished. The Peace Stadium in Bouaké has been completed and will host international matches. These stadiums, along with the one in Korhogo, which is being completed, and the one in Yamoussoukro that has been closed for final work following evaluations are among the most important stadiums built. The one in Bouaké has been renovated and enlarged.

Last but not least, the construction of the Yamoussoukro-Bouaké highway. In fact, this highway infrastructure goes beyond Bouaké and is intended to fulfil the dream of the country’s founding father, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who wanted to build a highway from south to north in the 1970s. The new highway will therefore pass behind the city of Bouaké and join the road to the north, not far from the village of Bamoro, at least 10 km from Bouaké. The aim is to reach the north. Korhogo airport, like San Pedro airport, is being upgraded and the runway extended. Instructions from the Confederation of African Football !

The most important thing is to capitalize on these achievements after the event

Guillaume Liby, a banker and economist

Another AFCON achievement was the construction of regional hospitals (CHR) in Bouaké and Korhogo, and the upgrading of those in and nearby Soubré. These are development infrastructures that will benefit the country. Guillaume Liby, banker and economist at William Khamey Advisors, a firm specializing in macroeconomic and financial analysis, says « the Africa Cup of Nations is always a great occasion for celebration and promotion of the host country. New sporting, communications and hospitality infrastructures are created. The most important thing is to capitalize on these achievements after the event ».

Thanks to the French Development Agency, Côte d’Ivoire has benefited from the installation of two new electricity dispatching centers in Yamoussoukro and Bouaké. What’s more, a total of 1,900 billion CFAF is being invested in the country to give the Ivorians complete energy autonomy in three years’ time. In addition, two new medium-voltage lines have been built to relieve the strain on the three existing lines, which have reached saturation point. Some of these projects are reported to be fully completed, while others are well advanced.