Togo: Authorities begin elaboration of a national strategy to fight corruption
Tuesday, 25 May 2021 09:47 
(Togo First) - By March 2022, Togo should have a national strategy to fight corruption and relation offenses more efficiently. Last Friday, the elaboration of this document was started by Christian Trimua, Minister of Human Rights and Spokesperson of the government.
Three years ago, the Higher Authority for Prevention and Fight Against Corruption and Related Offenses (HAPLUCIA), an institution for which the government had high hopes, started operations. Yet, Togo’s performances in terms of corruption were relatively modest, as attested by various global rankings and the Transparency International report.
Indeed, in the latter, the country scored 29 points in 2019, 30 points the year before that, and stagnated at 32 points from 2015 till that year.
Contrasting with the government’s objectives, the HAPLUCIA, in a recent poll, revealed that 58.1% of the Togolese think corruption increased in the past 12 months, while only 18.4% of them think it reduced.
To improve the situation, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) decided to partner with HAPLUCIA. Wiyao Essohana, Head of UNDP Togo, said in this regard: “UNDP's support to Haplucia is part of a holistic approach to supporting the transformation of public administration, promoting transparency, efficiency and accountability of institutions.”
It should be recalled that Christian Trimua previously noted that, in line with the government’s 2020-2025 roadmap, the HAPLUCIA would be recomposed.
In parallel, Lomé doubles down on efforts to keep corruption to the minimum. Recently, a project was announced to foster the declaration of goods and assets by officials, and another to democratize digital payment within the administration was launched.
Daniel Agbenonwossi (intern)
