The Société nationale des substances précieuses (SONASP) has officially opened its new agency in Tenkodogo, Burkina Faso. Located in the Cité du 11-Décembre, this new office is part of SONASP's decentralization efforts, aiming to bring its services closer to artisanal miners and collectors in the region. The opening ceremony included the installation of Patindé Abraham Kaboré as head of the Tenkodogo gold counter.
The Director-General of SONASP has tasked Kaboré with making the Tenkodogo office a welcoming, trustworthy, and transparent hub. This new agency follows previous openings in Bobo-Dioulasso, Banfora, and Gaoua. According to SONASP officials, the Tenkodogo area has significant potential for gold production and marketing. The agency will provide artisanal miners, collectors, and other stakeholders with an official, secure, and regulated platform.
The new office will also serve as a permanent identification center for artisanal miners, issuing mining artisan cards. SONASP's Director-General emphasized that the agency aims to guarantee transparent and secure transactions. The agency's opening is part of SONASP's efforts to structure the marketing of precious substances in Burkina Faso and reduce the amount of national production that escapes official channels.
Commandant Basile Zongo highlighted the importance of gold in Burkina Faso's economy, noting that many families and communities rely on it for their livelihoods. However, a significant portion of gold production still bypasses official channels. The Tenkodogo agency's opening is expected to facilitate the process for artisanal miners and collectors in the area.
Sami Bérenger Pooda, president of the Tenkodogo special delegation, welcomed the new agency, which will simplify procedures for local artisanal miners and collectors. During the opening ceremony, a gold bar weighing 338.4603 grams and valued at 25,641,753 CFA francs was officially weighed.
As part of the event, recognition certificates were awarded to the top three sellers from each of SONASP's concerned counters, including Bobo-Dioulasso, Banfora, Gaoua, and SONASP's headquarters. The opening of the Tenkodogo agency marks a new stage in SONASP's deployment, with the challenge of making it a reference point for local stakeholders and contributing to more organized and transparent gold marketing in Burkina Faso.
The SONASP agency in Tenkodogo is expected to play a significant role in promoting transparent and secure transactions in the region. With this new office, SONASP continues its efforts to decentralize its services and provide better support to artisanal miners and collectors across Burkina Faso.
Key points
- The SONASP agency in Tenkodogo aims to provide a secure and transparent platform for artisanal miners and collectors.
- The agency is part of SONASP's decentralization efforts to bring services closer to stakeholders in the region.
- The Tenkodogo agency has the potential to contribute to more organized and transparent gold marketing in Burkina Faso.
