Togo’s medical council is preparing legal action against dozens of doctors accused of practising without licenses, its president said last week.

Dr. Békéti Katanga Anthony, recently reappointed for a four-year term as President of the National Order of Doctors of Togo (ONMT), announced the move as part of a broader push to clean up the country’s healthcare sector.

The ONMT has identified the growing presence of unlicensed doctors as a major challenge. “We can’t guarantee the quality of care people receive unless we rigorously combat this scourge head-on,” said Dr. Békéti.

He stressed that the ONMT cannot act alone. He urged the Ministries of Health, Justice, Security, and Territorial Administration to coordinate with the ONMT to root out fake doctors operating across the country.

Currently, 826 doctors are officially registered with the ONMT. But authorities estimate that nearly 100 others continue to operate without accreditation—mainly in rural and peri-urban areas where formal health services remain scarce.

The crackdown comes as Togo ramps up its efforts to implement Universal Health Insurance (UHI), a program aimed at expanding access to healthcare for all citizens.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

SUNU Bank Togo's management states the bank has entered a new phase of stabilization and strategic refocusing after a 2024 marked by social tensions. The banking subsidiary of the SUNU Group, which has historical roots in insurance, is now working to move past a crisis inherited from its takeover of BPEC.

In February 2025, the bank began a restructuring effort. This involved closing seven branches, reorganizing staff, and streamlining operations. The bank officially justified these actions by citing an operating ratio of 110% in 2023 and costs deemed "incompatible with prudential balance."

Bénito Fado said, "We have to be honest: the crisis we went through left its mark on the relationship between general management and parts of the staff, but also on public trust. Yet this phase was essential to rebuild stronger and more sustainable foundations."

Since then, the bank claims to have strengthened its fundamentals, including governance, risk control, compliance with KYC and AML/CFT regulations, modernization of tools, and recapitalization in line with BCEAO requirements. The goal is to restore confidence among clients, regulators, and investors in a sub-regional context characterized by the rise of fintech companies and intense competition from pan-African banking groups.

Support from the SUNU Group, the majority shareholder and a key player in insurance, remains a strategic lever. This support is evident in recent capital injections mobilized to support the recovery. Top management emphasizes regained financial discipline while avoiding any sense of complacency.

The rebuilding efforts also extend to commercial operations. SUNU Bank Togo is focusing on "pragmatic" innovation, including WhatsApp banking, the MySUNU Bank platform, and 100% online account opening. It is also prioritizing stronger customer proximity. Bénito Fado stated, "Innovation is not a passing trend, but a coherent response to the needs for accessibility, speed, and simplicity, including in rural areas."

According to top management, a significant internal effort is also underway to restore social dialogue, revalue teams, and stabilize critical functions.

Highlights:

• First-of-its-kind for Francophone West Africa: Togo to voluntarily undergo IMF-led Governance Diagnostic Assessment (GDA), with results due by end of 2025.
• Key focus areas: Anti-corruption, budget transparency, public procurement, and asset declarations of officials.
• Linked to ECF program: Part of broader reform agenda under the $400M Extended Credit Facility approved in March 2024.

Togo has invited the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to conduct a comprehensive review of its governance systems, marking a significant step in its ongoing reform agenda. The diagnostic, which begins in August 2024, will assess the institutional frameworks related to corruption, public finance management, and the business regulatory environment.

The initiative aligns with commitments made under the IMF’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) approved in 2024. It aims to support Togo’s efforts to improve transparency, mobilize domestic revenue, and enhance its investment climate.

According to the IMF, the assessment will benchmark Togo’s governance practices against international standards and help define future reform priorities.

Areas under scrutiny include public procurement procedures, asset declarations by high-ranking officials, transparency around beneficial ownership in public contracts, and the independence of oversight bodies.

"This diagnosis will form a basis for defining reform priorities and assessing gaps in relation to international best practices," the IMF noted in a July 2025 update.

The results—expected to be publicly released—could lead to a reform action plan co-developed with international partners. If completed, Togo would be among the first Francophone West African nations to voluntarily undertake this form of governance assessment.

The government views the initiative as a strategic lever to attract private investment, particularly in logistics, agriculture, and energy. Togo's recent improvement on the World Bank’s CPIA index also led to its reclassification by the IMF as having a "high debt capacity"—a positive signal for creditors and investors.

This article was initially published in French by Fiacre E. Kakpo

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Lomé’s Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport (AIGE) officially inaugurated two new parking bays for wide-body aircraft, code E, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. The ceremony included several aviation sector stakeholders, notably China’s ambassador to Togo, Wang Min.

The Chinese company Witek constructed the 35,481 square meter facility at a cost of approximately $6.5 million. It will enable the simultaneous accommodation of more commercial aircraft, including high-level official flights, improving tarmac operations.

According to Colonel Idrissou Abdou Ahabou, Director General of Togo's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), the new works offer several advantages. These include increased aircraft accommodation capacity, higher revenue from parking fees contributing to the country’s economic development, enhanced airport safety and security, and more efficient operational performance.

This infrastructure is part of Project 18 of the Togo 2025 government roadmap. Its aim is to strengthen Lomé’s strategic position as a regional aviation hub.

For Michel Komlan Tindano, Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport, this expansion addresses the significant increase in air traffic observed in recent years. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the airport's air connectivity, boost its logistical appeal, and capture a larger share of regional transit.

Highlights:

• Two new Code E aircraft aprons inaugurated at Lomé’s AIGE airport.
• $6.5 million project executed by Chinese firm Witek.
• Part of Togo’s 2025 roadmap to strengthen Lomé’s position as a regional hub.

 Togo has inaugurated two new parking aprons for wide-body aircraft (Code E) at Lomé’s Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport (AIGE). The ceremony, held on Wednesday, July 16, brought together several aviation sector stakeholders, including China's ambassador to Togo, Wang Min.

Built by Chinese engineering company Witek, the new infrastructure spans 35,481 square meters and represents an investment of approximately $6.5 million. The aprons will enable the airport to handle more commercial aircraft simultaneously, including high-level official flights, easing tarmac operations.

“These works bring several advantages, including increased aircraft accommodation capacity, higher parking fee revenues, improved safety and security, and more efficient operations,” said Colonel Idrissou Abdou Ahabou, Director General of the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).

The project falls under Project 18 of the Togo 2025 government roadmap and aims to consolidate Lomé’s strategic position as a regional air hub.

According to Michel Komlan Tindano, Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport, the expansion comes in response to significant air traffic growth in recent years. Authorities hope the new facilities will enhance the platform’s connectivity, boost its logistics appeal, and capture a larger share of regional transit.

Nearly three months after his inauguration, Togo’s new President, Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, began his official duties on July 15, 2025. He welcomed a delegation from the National Council of Traditional Chiefs of Togo (CNCTT) to the Presidential Palace.

The group, led by CNCTT President Sama Kouya Batcharo, chief of the Kpinzindè canton, visited Savi de Tové to congratulate him on his appointment. They pledged support for his efforts to foster national unity during a sensitive political period.

With municipal elections just days away on July 17, the chiefs urged citizens to mobilize peacefully for the vote. Their call aims to support calm and orderly participation during Togo’s local polls.

Le Président de la République, Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, a reçu en audience ce 15 juillet 2025 au palais de la Présidence une délégation du Conseil national des chefs traditionnels du Togo (CNCTT), conduite par Sama Kouya Batcharo, président du CNCTT et chef du canton de… pic.twitter.com/B1kThodbLC

— Présidence Togolaise/Togolese Presidency (@PresidenceTg) July 15, 2025

Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, 85, is a well-known former minister and stalwart of the Togolese opposition. Parliament appointed him President for a four-year term under the new Fifth Republic. His core role is to serve as a symbol of national unity, while executive powers over the economy and security remain with the President of the Council, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé.

Togo's term deposits significantly rebounded in 2024, rising 15.7% from 2023 to 1,246 billion CFA francs, according to BCEAO data. This growth ended a downward trend that began after a 2021 peak of 1,458 billion CFA francs.

A term deposit is a sum placed in a bank for a fixed period in exchange for a fixed interest rate. This product serves as a financing tool for banks while offering a secure investment option for savers. The rebound suggests renewed confidence among economic agents in the solidity of Togo's financial system amid macroeconomic stabilization.

This positive momentum also reflects a regional trend. Within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), term deposits rose by 11.6%, reaching 10,695.8 billion CFA francs. Togo recorded one of the highest increases in the region, alongside Côte d'Ivoire, which saw a 29.6% rise, and Benin, with an 18.3% increase.

Non-financial corporations were the primary drivers of this increase, contributing 23%. Public administrations followed with a 19.8% rise, and households added 6.5%. Conversely, non-profit institutions serving households and financial corporations reduced their deposits.

Short-term deposits remained predominant across the zone, accounting for 77.3% of the total. However, increases were observed across all maturities.

This renewed interest in term savings coincides with a 12% increase in bank credit supply in Togo in 2024.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi