How strategic investments are transforming lives in West Africa
Fresh merchandise thanks to new roads
At the Sambaya market in Forécariah, Moriba Touré unloads tomatoes under the midday sun. A trader for years, he used to lose half of his merchandise due to potholed roads. Goods took so long to arrive, many were no longer fresh and were lost.
Then, in 2023, the African Development Bank reconstructed the Coyah-Farmoréah-Sierra Leone border road, 75 km long. This project, costing 47 million dollars, connected Guinea to Sierra Leone and made cross-border trade much easier.
“All the products arrive fresh now,” rejoices Moriba Touré. “I earn more.”
But the benefits extend well beyond individual traders. Ousmane Keïta, transport manager in Farmoréah, welcomes the reduction in vehicle breakdowns since the road’s construction: “Repairs cost less, trips can be made at any time.”
In Maferinya, another locality crossed by the road, Léonard Touré sees traffic triple thanks to this road. “People move freely,” rejoices this resident.
Agricultural transformation: new tools for women
Infrastructure improvements have created a foundation for broader economic development, particularly in agriculture.
Mama Aissata Camara, from the village of Wonkifong/Yenguakhori, is part of women’s groups that benefit from the Support Project for Guinean Agricultural Transformation and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship. This project was financed for eleven million American dollars in 2018 by the African Development Bank.
“Our bank account is growing,” she smiles. The project trained Mama Aissata Camara’s team in literacy and food security.
Kadiatou Diallo, who lives in Forécariah, maintains that these activities prosper thanks to the Emergency Food Production Project. “Tools and money are accumulating,” she rejoices.
This project, financed for 23 million dollars by the African Development Bank Group, including 11.2 million dollars disbursed in 2023, stimulates harvests for markets now accessible by road. The project, which ends in 2025, aims to strengthen food security in this West African country that has enormous agricultural potential but whose agricultural mechanization remains embryonic.
“We want tractors too,” gently slips in Kadiatou Diallo.
Energy and industrial development
Beyond roads and agriculture, Guinea’s development strategy encompasses energy infrastructure and industrial transformation.
The Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Electrical Network Interconnection Project, valued at 455.7 million dollars since 2013, has connected the electrical networks of four countries and provided electricity to 27,375 households in 2022.
The Support Project for Industrial Development and Resilience of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with 14 million dollars since 2024, creates jobs.
Meanwhile, the Support Project for Digitalization of Agropastoral Development and Market Access, with 28 million dollars since 2023, digitalizes the agricultural sector thus facilitating the marketing of harvests.
The Support Project for Guinean Agricultural Transformation and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship, endowed with 5.8 million dollars disbursed in 2023, trains young people.
Measuring impact: progress and persistent challenges
With an active portfolio of 1.2 billion dollars, the African Development Bank Group contributes to Guinea’s social and economic change. The Group has already spent 500 million dollars in its portfolio for Guinea.
Despite persistent challenges – under-equipment, financing deficit – progress is visible in Guinea. The roads have reduced travel times and allowed goods to be transported more efficiently.
Thanks to the productivity increase achieved under the Emergency Food Production Project, families now manage to meet their food needs.
The power lines from the Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Electrical Network Interconnection Project light up households, permanently provide electricity to artisans, to small and medium enterprises for greater productivity and decent jobs for communities, particularly young people and women.
Teamwork in the face of challenges
“It’s teamwork,” rejoices Moriba Touré, acknowledging that Guinea’s progress results from coordinated efforts.
All these projects for roads, food production, skills strengthening, financed by the Bank allow Guinea to strengthen its development achievements.
But more is needed, because Africa’s 402-billion-dollar infrastructure deficit is glaring in Guinea too. The African Development Bank Group enables the construction of roads and improves the living conditions of populations in this West African country. Major strides have been taken along the road to economic success, but much work remains to be done.
Source : African Development Bank Group
