Ceremony Building for the President of Madagascar
Having been re-elected as President of Madagascar, Marc
Ravalomanana commissioned the construction of a new steel framed
ceremony building, built on the palace grounds. It was initially to be
used as a place to hold ceremonies, but is now also used as a
'democracy training centre', in which officials ranging from town
councillors to MPs can learn about democracy and how to govern a
country.
This is a major leap forward for Madagascar, which had been governed by
an almost dictator-like system before Ravalomanana's election. Training
centres like this help to bring the country into the 21st century, by
spreading knowledge, understanding, and giving everyone a chance to
contribute towards Madagascar's development.