Gagnoa: The land chiefs give their blessing to the mayor for the ''China Mall' project.
In a few months, a shopping center called ''China Mall'' will be built on the former site of the Gagnoa information hall .
An architectural work that will bring added value to the local economy. This Wednesday, the village chiefs, led by patriarch Zébéyou Antoine, blessed the land on which the building will be constructed.
Holding a bottle of water in his right hand, the land chief poured the contents of the bottle onto the ground while pronouncing words of blessing in the local language.
The traditional authority has called upon the spirits of the ancestors to facilitate everything for the realization of this project which will undoubtedly propel the city of the cheesemaker onto the path of local development.
Koudou Denis, the village chief of Garahio, through his spokesperson, informed the public that the presence of the crowned heads at this ceremony was justified by the support they provide to their son, Yssouf Diabaté.
“We are here to support the Member of Parliament and Mayor Yssouf Diabaté. We give him our blessing so that this project can reach its completion. If we entrusted him with our municipality, it is so that he can commit to the development of the city.”
"We cannot leave behind him. We will support him in all projects concerning Gagnoa because we want a new Gagnoa," the spokesperson said.
Taking the microphone in turn, Yssouf Diabaté denounced the hidden hands that are manipulating young people and women to oppose the construction project of the "China Mall".
On the grounds that this shopping center will compete with the vendors of the small market located nearby. Worse, opponents of the project are spreading the information that the city council is considering demolishing the small market to make way for a parking lot reserved for customers of the "China Mall".
Faced with these allegations, which the city council considers unjustified, the mayor offered clarification. He pointed out that his detractors had not received the correct information. According to the mayor, the project was discussed and approved by the city council.
From this point on, nothing can stand in the way of its implementation. According to Yssouf Diabaté, he and his staff informed all segments of society about the project during its development. With his hand on his heart, the mayor reassured his constituents that he would not take any action that would harm the economic operators, who are also his voters.
"If I am a member of parliament and mayor, it is thanks to the mothers and the young people. I will never do anything that goes against their interests. In this market, I have mothers, younger brothers and sisters who sell here. I cannot engage in unfair competition with them," the mayor argued.
He reassured the vendors at the small market that there had never been any question of replacing the market with a parking lot. He added that talks were underway with China Mall.
The various parties must reach an agreement so that the future shopping center does not sell its goods retail like the vendors at the small market. Ideally, "China Mall" should offer attractive prices so that vendors from Gagnoa do not have to travel to Abidjan to restock their supplies.
In his closing remarks, Mayor Diabaté urged his constituents not to resist the municipal council's decision.
Lyne Zahui / © Gagnoa.net
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