{"id":405111,"date":"2011-04-28T16:01:43","date_gmt":"2011-04-28T16:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/04\/28\/rush-as-ivory-coast-banks-reopen\/"},"modified":"2011-04-28T16:01:43","modified_gmt":"2011-04-28T16:01:43","slug":"rush-as-ivory-coast-banks-reopen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/04\/28\/rush-as-ivory-coast-banks-reopen\/","title":{"rendered":"Rush as Ivory Coast banks reopen"},"content":{"rendered":"

28 April 2011<\/span> Last updated at<\/span> 12:01 ET<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Thousands of Ivorians have queued to withdraw money and receive delayed salaries as Ivory Coast’s banks reopen after a 10-week shutdown.<\/p>\n

The closure of banks followed ex-President Laurent Gbagbo’s attempt to stay in power after disputed elections.<\/p>\n

The reopening of the banking system is a step towards restarting the economy of the world’s biggest cocoa producer.<\/p>\n

New President Alassane Ouattara’s government has promised two months-worth of public sector salaries.<\/p>\n

Ivorians were given little warning when the banks closed in February, leaving thousands struggling to survive without salaries, pensions and savings.<\/p>\n

One client queuing outside a bank in the main city, Abidjan, said he had been waiting since early morning to withdraw enough money to feed his household.<\/p>\n

“I’ll take care of my family who have suffered for at least two months without much to eat. I’ll take care of the children and their return to school,” he said.<\/p>\n

The formal business sector has also been unable to function and the country’s main export, cocoa, remains blocked.<\/p>\n

Though sanctions have been lifted, exporters need access to their bank accounts before they can pay customs duties, says BBC’s John James in the city.<\/p>\n

Militia leader killed<\/span><\/p>\n

Ex-President Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to step down after November’s elections prompted the West African central bank, which administers the currency union to which Ivory Coast belongs, to close its offices in the country.<\/p>\n

International financial and trade sanctions were also put in place.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, the government attempted to reopen schools but most students and many teachers did not turn up.<\/p>\n

Continue reading the main story<\/a><\/p>\n

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