Seventy-three villages, three tribal chiefs, and three canton chiefs gathered in Bouaké on October 19 for a meeting organized by independent presidential candidate Ahoua Don Mello.

“I cannot be a candidate without first coming to entrust this candidacy to my people. Because it is with your wisdom that you raised my mother (Editor’s note: his mother is originally from Bouaké). It is also through your wise counsel, which I receive every day, that I will lead Côte d’Ivoire,” Ahoua Don Mello told the audience.

Presenting his development plan for the Gbêkê region, the candidate stated: “We can establish textile factories wherever cotton is grown, just as we can build chocolate industries where cocoa is cultivated, and palm oil industries wherever palm is produced.”

His vision extends beyond the transformation of raw materials. Ahoua Don Mello also aspires to make Sakassou a “cultural city”, honoring the legacy of Queen Abla Pokou.

“In this cultural city, there will be a special museum where all our cultural heritage will be showcased and sold to tourists. There will also be an industrial zone dedicated to producing royal hats, necklaces, and woven loincloths,” he declared.