Port security project for West, Central Africa launched in Togo

Economic governance

Wednesday, 03 December 2025 11:08

Port security project for West, Central Africa launched in Togo

(Togo First) - A new phase of the "SCOPE Africa" project, a regional initiative to strengthen the security of strategic ports in West and Central Africa, started this week in Lomé.

The project was launched at a two-day seminar that opened on Tuesday, led by Togo's High Council for the Sea (HCM). The HCM's chief of staff, Penn Laré, said securing maritime areas is beyond the capacity of any single country and that the project builds on more than a decade of programs that have improved regional cooperation.

SCOPE Africa aims to strengthen compliance with international standards, improve risk management, train port stakeholders with a focus on inclusion, and reinforce coordination and response mechanisms.

Its launch comes as nearly 90% of trade to the continent moves by sea. Port traffic in the region is growing by an estimated 7% a year, and ports play a key role in moving goods, especially to landlocked countries. That growth also exposes port infrastructure to a range of risks, including industrial accidents, illicit trafficking, environmental pressures and threats linked to regional instability.

Funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France and Enabel, the project comes amid rising maritime trade and mounting security pressures.

For Brussels, represented by Ambassador Gwilym Ceri Jones, SCOPE Africa is an operational component of the EU's "Global Gateway" strategy. Ten ports have been selected, including Lomé, Dakar, Abidjan, Lagos and Douala.

In the long term, the project aims to ease trade flows, strengthen strategic corridors and support regional economic integration.

The Lomé meetings will seek to clarify the project's operational arrangements and assess the needs of the participating ports. The agenda also includes a visit to the Autonomous Port of Lomé, a major hub in the Gulf of Guinea.

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.