Ouagadougou Hosts UEMOA Accountants Congress and Revives Key Tourism Events

Ouagadougou — Newspapers on Friday highlighted a range of topics, including sport, tourism promotion, and the 5th congress of accounting experts within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), which is set to take place in Burkina Faso.

According to a new release by Burkina Information Agency, the UEMOA congress will be held on October 26 and 27, 2023, focusing on the theme “Accountants and the Fight Against Illicit Financial Flows.” The event follows previous congresses hosted by Ivory Coast, Senegal, Benin, and Mali. Yacouba Traoré, president of the Order of Chartered Accountants and Chartered Accountants of Burkina (ONECCA-BF), stated that the accountancy profession plays a crucial role in combating illicit financial flows. Minister of Economy, Finance and Foresight, Aboubacar Nacanabo, echoed this sentiment, urging participants to engage effectively in this fight through adequate organization, relevant procedures, and appropriate means.

Sidwaya also reported the revival of key tourism events in Ouagadougou. After the suspension of the Ouagadougou International Tourism and Hospitality Exhibition (SITHO) in 2017 and the Ouagadougou Tourism, Hotel, and Catering Showcase (VITHRO) in 2020, the government has decided to jointly organize these two events this year to boost the tourism sector. Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, commented that this edition serves as a test of the tourism sector’s resilience and symbolizes the spirit of a people who refuse to bow to adversity.

Adding to the tourism angle, the Federation of Tourism Employers’ Organizations President, Célestin Pierre Zoungrana, emphasized the need to focus on domestic tourism. This stance was supported by Agaichatou Atta, the Minister of Crafts and Tourism of Niger, who mentioned that domestic tourism offers economic stability, creates local jobs, and strengthens cultural and social ties.

Lastly, L’express du Faso, published in Bobo-Dioulasso, highlighted sports news, specifically the top 10 FIFA rankings in Africa. Morocco leads the chart, followed by Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso.