Banfora

Banfora is a city located in the south-west of the Burkina Faso.

Capital of the area of the Cascades and the province of the Comoé, its population is roughly of: 50000 inhabitants.

It developed thanks to the industry of the cane with sugar and is on the railway line which connects Abidjan (Ivory Coast) to Ouagadougou (capital of Burkina Faso).

It is one of the principal tourist destinations of Burkina Faso because it offers an easy access to the cascades, with the Lake Tengrela (where Hippopotame S live) and with the mountains of Sindou (a natural rock formation very known of the escaladeurs).

Geography

The commune of Banfora, chief town of the province of the Comoé (Country of the Black Peasant), is located on trunk road N 7 at approximately 400 km of Ouagadougou and at 85 km of Sore-Dioulasso. The commune extends on a surface from approximately 80 km ².

It is limited:

in the east by the village of Tatana,
in the west by that of Kiribina,
in north by the commune of Bérégadougou,
in the south by the villages of Kossara and Tangora

Divided into eleven (11) sectors, Banfora is also a cosmopolitan city where live all the ethnos groups of the country with however a majority of Karaboro, Gouin, Turka and Sénoufo mainly farmers.

She is finally a frontier city and crossroads between the Burkina Faso, the Mali and the Coast-D' Ivory.

History

According to the tradition, the name of Banfora would come from Gouafo, the founder. This word also means: “the clearing. ”

The first occupants were Karaboro who form with Gouins and Turkas the principal ethnos groups. They all would be come from the south of the Burkina Faso.

Important crossroads, the area knew many invasions until French colonization.

1903 : creation of the military station of Banfora
1904: creation of the administrative station of Banfora
1905: creation of the Banfora road - Sore
1931: arrival of the railway Abidjan - Niger and operational in 1933
1944: Sunday was devoted, day of the market of Banfora
1951: decree of the bearing May 4th creation of the circle of Banfora
1959: decree N 264 of the bearing May 24th creation of the commune of Banfora.
1960 : decree N 60-249 of the June 19th 1960 bearing erection in commune of full exercise. The first mayor was Bégnon Kone.

Administration

The municipal council is composed of sixty six (66) city council men elected officials the February 12th 1995. He is chaired by the mayor elected the March 4th 1995: Yacouba Couloï Sagnon.

Banfora plays the part of provincial capital and even regional. Thus, it shelters the provincial and regional directions decentralized or decentralized services State.

Economy

In addition to the marketing activities carried on primarily in the old ones and new markets, Banfora also shelters production facilities such as:

the Sugar New business of Comoé (SN SO.SU.CO)
Large Mills of Burkina (G.M.B)
the Alcohol Production company (SOPAL)
the Fiber Company and Textiles (Factory of cotton égranage of the SOFITEX)
Two (2) Sawmills (Faso Yiri and Scierie Coulibaly)

Equipment

Health

The city profits from the services of the regional hospital (CHR), Infantile maternal protection, dispensaries of sectors and an operating room suite. One finds there two pharmacies (Nadon and Comoé).

Traditional medicine there is very developed with a center of tradi-therapy of international repute - Dr. Dakyo-.

Education

The commune of Banfora counts 19 elementary schools, two Colleges Municipal and Provincial and soon a College of Technical education (THIS), four (4) colleges private and the college Sainte Therese.

Culture and sport

There exists a Youth club and arts center which shelters in its center the Communal Library. The Commune has a modern orchestra for youth. The folklore is captivating and penetrating there.

On the level of the Sport, a Municipal Stage is in construction in order to promote the sport in the commune.

Leisures

In addition to, the two cinemas (Nérigaba and Black Paysan), Banfora and her area offer many tourist curiosities. E.g.: Peaks of Sindou, Cascades of Karfiguéla, the domes of Fabédougou etc

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