Guinea: The Country is poorly managed

By African Bulletin on January 10, 2011

“In 2009, Guinea was ranked 168 out of 180 by Transparency International. The Guinean Association for Transparency (AGT) noted with concern that this ranking is testament to the persistence of corruption in Guinea. A scourge that undermines democracy and threatens all society levels and stages: striking  citizens in all aspects of its daily life and is particularly prevalent in the mining sector by irregular and secret trading negotiations  and the signature, on the run, of fake  mining agreements and misappropriation of mining revenues .

AGT said that Guinea is not poor, but it is poorly managed”.

Evidences of potential wealth are as follows, although mitigated: The Ministry of Finance has announced that the production of alumina in Guinea of about 182 046 tons, during the second quarter of 2010, has increased by 49.2% over the same period in 2009. This exceptional situation is following the recovery of demand in the international market, accusing during the first six months of 2010, a cumulative production of alumina estimated to 311,078 tons, and raising by 26, 7% over the same period of 2009, the source said. Similarly, the volume of gold production, estimated at 209460 ounces, was up 6.6% over the same period, while that of diamond (71001 carats) dropped to 66,1% compared to 2009 due to “alertness” of the customs services. However, during the first half of 2010, gold production increased by 63.9% to 439045 ounces, while that of diamond has decreased by 48.7%, thus amounting to 143088 carats compared to 2009.  In contrast, production of bauxite has evolved in “saw tooth”, reaching 787013 tons in the first quarter of 2010, an increase of 21.2% over the same period in 2009 thanks to the ” global recovery demand “, while in the second quarter of 2010, it decreased by 8.7% due to” the significant decline in investment. In addition, energy production has experienced during the second quarter a rise of 1.8%, or 135621 MWh, while that of gas, amounted to 19.62 million m3, has fell down by 25% by over the same period of 2009. Except for the production of drinking water of about 23 billion m3 which increased by 7% compared to 2009 during the first six months of 2010, production volumes of electricity, 303720 MWH , and gaz, 39076000 m3 decreased by 3.7% and 31.7% because of “insufficient investment”. In the building sector and public works (BTP), the volume of production increased by 43.1% during the second quarter of 2010 for painting and decreased by 17.3% for cement compared to the same period of 2009.
However, the volume of imported cement has more than doubled, reaching 183000 tonnes in the second quarter of 2010, while in the first half of 2010, these volumes have increased by 48.7% for painting and a decrease of 13.4 % for cement compared to 2009 because of imported cement that rose up by  24.6% , representing about 290000 tons.