BY JOYCE JOHNSON

[Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: “The African Magazine”] Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly who returned home last Thursday from France where he received a two-month medical treatment, had his first day at work yesterday, at a time the country’s projected 7.2% GDP growth for this year has been revised down to 0,8 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It all started three months ago when the prime minister self-quarantined out of precaution after meeting with visitors who had tested positive for covid-19. He proved negative, but later developed a heart problem that required his being dispatched to the the famous La Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in France. He came home Thursday looking weak and walking slowly.

The Prime Minister’s return was quite an event. He was greeted warmly upon his arrival by President Alassane Ouattara and first lady Dominique Ouattara, along with several members of his cabinet.

Upon returning to his office yesterday for the first time in eight weeks, a happy prime minister known to be a workaholic like his long-time mentor, President Ouattara, told his staff: “You prayed a lot, and God heard you. Glory to God.” He then urged them to get down to work:

“Now I am back. Let’s get down to work. We have to pull up our sleeves to meet the challenges facing our country. I am certain that under the leadership of the president of the republic, we’ll be able to meet those challenges in our country’s interest. We have a clear roadmap to follow.”

The challenges are not small. Côte d’Ivoire, the economic engine of the 8-nation West African Economic and Monetary Union, has scored big GDP growth numbers during President Ouattara’s two terms, with a projection of 7.2% for 2020. Then came the coronavirus pandemic with the ensuing economic recession that caused Ivorian authorities to revise the GDP growth down drastically.

The very day Prime Minister Coulibaly sat down behind his big desk for the first time in two months, the country’s economy and finance minister, Adama Coulibaly, stated during an official event:

“The GDP growth rate initially projected at 7.2% could see a significant decrease down to 0.8% if the [coronavirus] crisis drags on until the end of the year.”

He pointed out this will negatively impact the socio-economic dynamics prevailing since 2012—President Ouattara’s first full year in office. He added the budget deficit could deep down below the rate of 3% of GDP required by the West African Economic and Monetary Union, UEMOA. (If the economic engine that is Côte d’Ivoire in UEMOA faces such predicament, other member-states should fare as badly—if not worse.)

The bad news is really no surprise, but it is worse than previously thought. Back in March, the prime had rang the alarm during a press conference that the projected GDP growth for 2020 could be cut in half if the pandemic is brought under control by the end of June.

That not being the case, it is goes without saying that Amadou Gon Coulibaly who, a few months ago, was designated by the Rally of the Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace to run under the party’s banner to succeed President Ouattara, has his work cut out for him.