Togo to Hand Over AFRISTAT Presidency to Equatorial Guinea Starting 2026

Economic governance

Monday, 11 August 2025 14:51

Togo to Hand Over AFRISTAT Presidency to Equatorial Guinea Starting 2026

(Togo First) - Equatorial Guinea will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers of Economic and Statistical Observatory of Sub-Saharan Africa (AFRISTAT) on January 1, 2026, and hold the post until December 2027. The Lusophone country will succeed Togo, which has led the council since January 2024 and will complete its term in December 2025.

The appointment was confirmed last week during AFRISTAT’s 32nd ordinary session of the Council of Ministers, held via videoconference. The meeting, chaired by Sandra Ablamba Johnson, Minister and Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Council on behalf of Togo, focused on strengthening statistical systems to manage member states’ development policies. Ministers also addressed institutional challenges.

J’ai eu l’honneur, au nom de Son Excellence Monsieur @FEGnassingbe , de présider le Jeudi 07 Août 2025 la 32ᵉ session ordinaire virtuelle du Conseil des Ministres de l’AFRISTAT, organisation qui regroupe 22 États d’Afrique subsaharienne.⤵️#AFRISTAT #Togo #Statistiques pic.twitter.com/ZIFQDnbUEY
— Sandra ABLAMBA JOHNSON (@SandraA_JOHNSON) August 9, 2025

"There is no need to demonstrate the importance of AFRISTAT for strengthening statistical systems and steering development actions in our respective countries. Its role in promoting harmonized statistical production tools and methods, used by our statisticians, helps enhance the credibility of our data with both national and international development partners," emphasizer Johson.

AFRISTAT coordinates statistical activities and mobilizes resources to support national and regional systems. For 2026–2035, the Council approved a budget of CFA12 billion to develop economic, social, and environmental statistics across its 22 member states.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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.