Speaking on behalf of the GWP-WA’s staff, administrative and financial manager, Mrs. AGUIRATOU YARO, said that the three and a half years spent working alongside Mr. AHOUANSOU affectionately call "doyen (dean)" were very enriching and very formative in spite of his strictness and his pressure at work. She thanked him for his wise advices and apologized on behalf of all her colleagues for all the shortcomings and asked for blessings for the continuation of GWP / WA activities in general and for the Mekrou project in particular.
Mr. Dibi MILLOGO, chair of the CWP Burkina Faso, thanked the outgoing project manager for the work done. He said that despite his impulsive nature, Mr. Ahouansou was able to work in good intelligence with dynamism and determination to carry out the Mékrou project which is a learning ground by its size and the number of actors.
The outgoing Project Officer expressed his sincere gratitude to the Burkinabe Authorities and thanked all GWP-WA staff, the Chair, the Representative of the 3 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger) sharing the basin, and the 3 CWPs for having accompanied him in his function. Corneille AHOUANSOU said he was ready to assist to achieve project objectives not to lose momentum. In conclusion, he wished that the transboundary basin will be better known and exploited in peace for the happiness of our people in order to promote green growth and effectively reduce poverty in this area.
Chairing the ceremony, the Executive Secretary, recalled the genesis of the Mékrou pilot project, "Water for growth and poverty reduction in the Mekrou transboundary river basin". He took the opportunity to congratulate Mr. AHOUANSOU for his hard work, his energy and his long experience without which the project would not have known so much enthusiasm and results. He extended his thanks to the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Union, GWP, AGHRYMET and other partner institutions for their collaboration and wished success to Mr. AHOUANSOU for his new position.
The GWP-WA Executive Secretary and the outgoing Mekrou Project Officer initialled and signed the handing over report.
The ceremony ended with the presentation of a symbolic gift to the outgoing project manager and a family picture.
