Togo to Soon Start Construction of 22 Groynes to Shield Its Coastline

Public works

Monday, 13 October 2025 16:08

Togo to Soon Start Construction of 22 Groynes to Shield Its Coastline

(Togo First) - Coastal protection work on the Gbodjomé-Agbodrafo-Goumoukopé segment in Togo is scheduled to enter its active phase on October 20, 2025.

The project, valued at over 33 billion XOF(or 51 million euros), is part of the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP-Togo). Funding for this segment is provided by the French Development Agency (AFD), Invest International, and supported by the World Bank.

"Everything is ready for the effective start of the work, scheduled around October 20," Eusébio A. César, the WACA project’s Senior Coastal Civil Engineer, told Togo First.

The construction contract was awarded to the Dutch firm Boskalis International BV, which has previously worked on similar projects in Togo. The work will be overseen by the Inros Lackner/Antea consortium.

According to details shared by WACA ResIP, the construction will span 18 months, running from June 2025 to November 2026.

Specifically, the project involves building 22 protective groynes (20 between Gbodjomé and Agbodrafo and two at Goumoukopé). Each groyne will measure between 65 and 75 meters and will be reinforced by sand nourishment estimated at 35,000 cubic meters per compartment, totaling approximately 730,000 cubic meters of sand dredged from the high seas, 10 kilometers offshore.

"These structures will stabilize the coast and allow populations to live without the fear of being displaced by the sea," said Adou Rahimi Alimi Assimiou, WACA-Togo National Project Coordinator.

The operation also includes backfilling 450,000 cubic meters of sand into the dead lagoon channels of Aného, and replanting 10 hectares of coconut trees to stabilize the coastline and limit marine encroachment.

Beyond the infrastructure work, the project emphasizes its social dimension. Before the launch, 296 affected individuals were compensated. The project is also generating local employment: "The project has already created 112 jobs, 89 of which are local labor," said Loukman Nadjari, the project's social safeguard specialist. Local residents have been briefed on temporary disruptions related to traffic and noise pollution. The stated goal for the duration of the work is to ensure zero accidents, zero incidents.

Project engineers anticipate the coastal structures will provide long-term stability for at least 30 years, curbing erosion and protecting homes, hotels, and infrastructure currently under threat. The successful completion of this phase is expected to eventually pave the way for an extension of the protection scheme towards Kpémé and Aného, areas where the sea continues to advance.

Previous WACA project work in Togo, also executed by Boskalis BV, included the construction and rehabilitation of 14 groynes along the Agbodrafo-Sanvee Condji section, the installation of a breakwater, compartment nourishment, and the development of the Gbaga channel in Aného.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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.