Ouagadougou: The Ganzourgou Provincial Consultation Framework (CCP) held its initial ordinary session of the year on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in Zorgho, centering discussions on the progress of the To¨ga SA gold mining project and recent innovations in two laws related to freedom of association and the status of customary and traditional chieftaincy.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the session convened in the deliberation room of the Zorgho town hall, with attendees including Presidents of the special delegations (PDS), general secretaries of the town halls, customary and religious authorities, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), directors and heads of provincial services, and coordinating bodies of citizen watch movements.
In her opening address, High Commissioner of Ganzourgou, Aminata Sorgho/Gouba, who chairs the committee, reiterated the CCP's role as a forum for dialogue among stakeholders involved in the province's developmental actions and policies. She highlighted the challenge of mobilizing financial resources, which affects the body's functionality. She expressed gratitude to the Belgian Development Agency, Enabel, the To¨ga SA gold project managers, and the municipal authorities of Zorgho and Boudry for their support in organizing the session.
The session's first presentation, by To¨ga mine superintendent Hugues Sansan Kambire, reviewed the implementation status of To¨ga SA's activities currently in the construction phase. Discussions covered stakeholder engagement, the resettlement action plan, construction monitoring, livelihood restoration, community development, community health and safety, cultural heritage preservation, local employment, and local content. Complaints management and environmental protection and restoration measures were also addressed. Mr. Kambire noted the establishment of four consultation frameworks within the project, with several meetings already held with various stakeholders.
Subsequently, PDS of Zorgho, Valentin Badolo, presented Law No. 002-2026/ALT of January 14, 2026, concerning the status of customary and traditional chieftaincy, aimed at clarifying the roles, responsibilities, and functions of customary authorities. The High Commissioner highlighted the law's potential to help customary leaders better understand their responsibilities in strengthening social cohesion and community living.
Law No. 011-2025/ALT of July 17, 2025, on freedom of association, was presented by the Secretary General of the province, Harouna Karambiri. This presentation detailed the rules and conditions for establishing associations and the innovations introduced by the new legal framework.
After the presentations, discussions allowed participants to seek clarifications and gain a deeper understanding of the provisions of both legal texts. At the forum's conclusion, Aminata Sorgho/Gouba commended the stakeholder mobilization, particularly the province's high-ranking traditional chiefs, and the quality of discussions. She emphasized the importance of the law on customary and traditional chieftaincy in fostering community life and urged participants to disseminate the session's information within their organizations and communities.
The session also allowed the High Commissioner to acknowledge the province's decentralized technical services, projects, and programs in health and public well-being, and she extended best wishes to farmers for a successful 2026-2027 agricultural season.