CONSOLIDATING SOCIAL PEACE: MINISTER AMADOU KONE CALLS FOR LASTING PEACE IN IVORIAN PORTS

Activités portuaires Friday 24 January 2025

To maintain a peaceful social climate at the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro, thereby boosting productivity, competitiveness, and performance in this vital economic sector, the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with port authorities and docker union federations, organized a seminar from December 5 to 7, 2024, at NSA Hotel in Grand-Bassam.

Themed "Consolidating Social Peace in Ivorian Ports," the seminar aimed to identify obstacles to implementing the decree of January 30, 2019, which established a special status for dockers in Côte d’Ivoire.

The opening ceremony, held on Thursday, December 5, 2024, was attended by Mr. Amadou KONE, Minister of Transport; Mr. Hien Yacouba SIÉ, Managing Director of Abidjan Port Authority; Mr. Hilaire LAMIZANA, Managing Director of San Pedro Port Authority; Mrs. Asta-Rosa CISSE, Managing Director of Abidjan Terminal and President of the Society of Port Handling Companies (SEMPA); members of the Port Communities of Abidjan and San Pedro; political and administrative authorities; and a significant number of dockers.

In his opening address, Minister Amadou KONE emphasized the pivotal role ports play in the development of Côte d’Ivoire and its hinterland. He acknowledged the support and visionary leadership of President Alassane OUATTARA, which has transformed Ivorian ports into essential hubs in Africa.

The Minister also lauded progress in implementing the new docker status decree. He encouraged stakeholders to make appropriate decisions through “frank and cordial exchanges” to ensure the full implementation of the decree.

On behalf of both Ivorian port authorities, Mr. Hien Yacouba SIÉ expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic for the revitalization of Ivorian ports and commended the Minister of Transport for his unwavering commitment to the sector’s development. He welcomed the seminar, whose ultimate goal is to achieve a social truce in Ivorian ports with the dockers.

"This truce and the resulting agreements should enhance handling productivity for improved port competitiveness while ensuring better working conditions for dockers," stated the Managing Director of the Abidjan Port Authority.

Mr. Hien Yacouba SIÉ also underscored the importance of consolidating recent achievements to strengthen Ivorian ports’sub-regional leading position in the face of growing competition.

Representing Grand-Bassam’s Mayor Jean Louis MOULOT, Mr. Oumar BAKAYOKO, Fourth Deputy Mayor, welcomed participants and urged them to maintain social peace in the ports.

It should be noted that efforts to calm down the docker workforce began in 2019, with the Ministry of Transport and other stakeholders working towards the effective implementation of the new regulatory framework.

Among the measures enacted, the Ivorian government revised the statutes of the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro, granting them authority over docker workforce management and operations.

These decisions aim to sustain social peace in the ports, ensuring effective operations and improved productivity.