Togo First
CIZO Program: Over 130,000 Solar Kits Distributed at June 2023
From its launch in 2017 to 30 June 2023, the CIZO rural electrification program has provided 134,431 solar kits to households in Togo. This was recently disclosed by the Togolese authorities.
The kits help recipients meet their basic power needs (lighting, phone charging, radio powering) and also in their farming activities, such as watering.
Pay As You Go is the payment system adopted for purchasing the kits. Concretely, the buyers can purchase the kits in installments and via Mobile Money.
The CIZO program aims to help Togolese households, in rural parts of the country in particular, easily access electricity. The program’s goal is to provide cheap solar kits to over 2 million citizens (200,000 households) by 2025.
Operators engaged in the project include BBOXX-EDF, Solergie, Sun King, Moon, and Fenix Intl.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo-Turkey: Trade Volume Nears $200 Million in 2022
Trade between Togo and Turkey reached nearly $200 million last year. Muteber Kılıç, the new Turkish ambassador to Togo, disclosed the figure on September 19, 2023, in an audience with President Faure Gnassingbe, in Lomé.
During the meeting, the new ambassador presented the Togolese leader with her credentials. “The volume of trade was about $128 million in 2021, and it increased to nearly $200 million by the end of last year. There is significant potential that we could further develop,” Muteber Kılıç said after the meeting.
The increase in trade is attributable to efforts made by both sides. In 2020, for example, they signed many agreements and memoranda of understanding, focusing on setting up a political consultation mechanism between their foreign ministries, a reciprocal visa exemption agreement for holders of official passports, and a memorandum of understanding relating to cooperation between the Togolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic Academy of the Republic of Turkey.
“Turkey and Africa have developed their relations in recent years in all areas, and Togo, of course, holds a special place in these relations. The balance is positive, but we could do more. We discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, and I am ready to do everything necessary to develop our relations with Togo,” Ambassador Kılıç added.
In October 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his first official visit to Togo, in line with the two nations’ ambitions for a stronger partnership.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: Inflation Falls to 6.6% in August
After rising consecutively since April, the inflation rate in Togo fell slightly to 6.6% in August. This was recently disclosed by the country’s Institute for Statistics, Demographic and Economic Studies (INSEED).
The source mainly attributes the decrease to a decline in indices across various consumption sectors. Notably, there were declines in "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" (-5.3%), "Housing, water, gas, electricity, and other fuels" (-1.0%), "Transport" (-0.3%), and "Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics" (-2.7%).
More specifically, there was a significant decrease in the costs of food products like tubers, vegetables, fish, and various staples.
Excluding food products, prices nationally saw a marginal drop of 0.2%. Core inflation, which excludes energy and fresh products, also dropped by 0.3%.
The inflation rate, calculated based on the average indices of the last twelve months on a national scale, stood at 6.6% in August 2023. Excluding food products, the general price level saw a 0.2% decrease nationally. The core inflation, which measures monthly price index variations excluding energy and fresh products, declined by 0.3%.
Despite price pressures improving between July and August, compared to the same period in 2022, the general price level was up by 3.8%; a surge attributable to a general rise in costs in the post-Covid period.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Eight Togolese Entrepreneurs Among Laureates of the 3rd Edition of "L’Afrik de Demain" Awards
The "Océan’s News" magazine announced the winners of its third edition of the "L’Afrik de Demain" program. Eight young Togolese entrepreneurs stood out among the 20 laureates revealed on September 14.
The eight chosen, all under the age of 35, come from diverse sectors such as agro-industry, technology, fashion, and design. They were picked because their projects, according to the jury, met significant social challenges.
Under the program, the laureates will benefit from increased visibility, offered by "Océan’s News" and its media partners. "This media exposure will assist the winners in establishing their online presence, thereby strengthening their credibility on the international stage," said the organizers.
In addition to this visibility, the winners will have access to a comprehensive training program that will cover essential aspects of their businesses' growth, including communication, digital marketing, financial management, and business management.
This year, 275 entrepreneurs from eight African countries applied. The countries are Togo, Cameroon, Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Niger, Madagascar, and Cape Verde.
The "L’Afrik De Demain" program aims to boost the skills of young African entrepreneurs while improving their online presence and visibility, enabling them to grow their communities and solve crucial issues these communities face.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo: Ministry of Health Seeks Firm to Audit PR4SP Health Support Project
The Togolese Ministry of Health seeks a firm to audit the PR4SP, a project launched last June and aimed at bolstering the country’s basic health system.
In addition to carrying out the financial and accounting audit of the project, the selected firm will verify the conformity of contracts awarded in its framework, throughout the 2023-2026 period.
Firms interested have until September 29, 2023, to apply, according to the tender notice.
Drawn in line with the government’s 2020-2025 roadmap, the PR4SP puts emphasis on access to health services for all.
The four-year project is backed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), with $63 million.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Announces Introduction of English in Preschool and Primary Education
Starting from the next academic year, which opens on September 25th, English will be taught in all preschools and primary schools across Togo. The news, which aims to further integrate the language into the country’s education system, was announced last Friday by the Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education, Komla Dodzi Kokoroko.
"The pilot phase of introducing English at the preschool and primary levels will begin in the 2023-2024 academic year at selected schools, focusing solely on the preparatory course level (CP). Other levels will be incorporated in the following years," the Minister said.
The move aligns with the government's vision of equipping young students with linguistic and communicative skills in English. It is also influenced by Togo’s recent adhesion (June 2022) to the Commonwealth in June 2022.
A committee has been set up to steer the initiative, and it has been actively working on providing various resources, including both physical and digital educational materials, audio recordings, videos, guides, textbooks, and tutorials for lesson planning.
Esaïe Edoh
Florence Yawa Ahofa Kouigan: A New Era for Togo's Governmental Communication
Following her recent appointment as Togo’s new minister of communication, Yawa Kouigan said she “will work tirelessly to promote information for our citizens, to enhance the pedagogy of governmental action, to structure the media landscape for dynamic, innovative, and transparent communication in the service of the nation.”
From the Private Sector to Politics
Born in November 1979, Florence Yawa Ahofa Kouigan boasts a diverse career, stretching from university education to the private sector, the judiciary, and finally, politics. After getting a degree in private law, with a specialization in business law from the University of Benin (now the University of Lomé), Kouigan began her career at Ecobank as a Legal Advisor, gathering experiences in Business and Corporate Communications.
However, in 2007, her career took a significant turn and she slowly moved into politics. In 2010, she became assistant coordinator of the European Union's electoral observation mission; a position which allowed her to emerge as a key player in Togo's electoral circles.
In 2017, she was appointed as a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), a decision that caused a stir, due to her allegiance to the ruling party, the UNIR, which she joined in 2012. Ignoring the critics, she became the CENI’s communication lead in 2018, during the legislative elections.
Kouigan’s online presence, on Twitter especially, combined with her position in the presidential cabinet since 2011, has made her a prominent figure in Togo's communication board. In 2019, she became the Deputy Director of Information and Communication for the Presidency, alongside Toba Tanama.
The same year, she became the mayor of Atakpamé and the first female president of the Communes of Togo Association (FCT) in 2020. Last August, she was elected as the Vice-President of the Council of Local Authorities of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (CCT-UEMOA).
In October 2021, Yawa Kouigan took the helm of the Ifodje Football Club d'Atakpamé from UNIR deputy Michel Amétodji, with Akodah Ayewouadan, her predecessor in the communication and media portfolio, also a native of Ogou 1, at her side.
Challenges Ahead
As the new minister of communication, Yawa Kouigan will have to overcome multifaceted challenges. Some of the issues she will have to tackle include disinformation, a task that requires striking a balance between regulation and freedom of speech. Also, the official will have to uphold or enhance press freedom standards, an area where Togo has made some progress in recent years, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Regulating social media and online platforms is another problem Kouigan will have to address with extreme care, as political decisions here can have significant repercussions, both locally and internationally.
It should be noted, however, that Yawa Kouigan is not the government’s spokesperson for communication. That position has been assigned to Secretary-General Christian Trimua. This means the two officials will closely collaborate for cohesive messaging and strategic alignment.
Furthermore, awaiting her immediate attention are crucial matters like the upcoming elections within the High Authority for Broadcasting and Communication (Haac), reforms to professionalize the press sector, the creation of press companies, modernizing the Togolese Television (TVT) and regional radios, and transitioning to digital terrestrial television (TNT).
Kouigan's tenure promises to be eventful and potentially transformative for Togo's media and communication landscape. Only time will tell how these challenges are navigated and what imprint she will leave on Togo's governmental communication.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo to Facilitate Access to Humanitarian Aid for the People of Niger
Togo is ready to help Niger’s people get humanitarian aid. Robert Dussey, the Togolese minister of foreign affairs, said so in a note to the president of the ECOWAS commission on September 15, 2023. The official expressed Togo's readiness to "facilitate the operations of the United Nations humanitarian agencies providing crucial assistance to vulnerable populations amidst the ongoing political and security crisis."
Togo’s support comes in response to a request from UN agencies, specifically the UN’s Under-Secretary-General responsible for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordination. The UN official urged the ECOWAS to ease the delivery of humanitarian aid to Niger. This is significant because Togo and other countries in the sub-region have stopped trading with Niger after the coup that overthrew former President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023.
Lomé's support, however, does not negate the suspension of trade and transit with Niger, which were halted on August 1. Instead, this stance is driven by Togo's recognition of the "best interests of the fraternal Nigerien people and our community," as articulated by Togolese diplomacy in their acceptance letter.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Records Another Successful Issuance on the WAEMU Market, Secures CFA32 Billion
On Friday, September 15, 2023, the Togolese government successfully raised XOF32 billion on the West African Economic and Monetary Union’s public securities market. This is XOF2 billion more than Lomé had targeted.
In detail, the country’s treasury raised XOF8 billion through fungible bills, with a 364-day maturity period and variable interest rates. The remaining XOF24 billion were secured via fungible bonds, which were issued for 3 and 5-year durations with annual interest rates of 6% and 6.25%, respectively.
Nineteen (19) investors subscribed to the operation, mobilizing XOF33 billion (but the country retained XOF32 billion, ed. note).
So far this year, Togo has raised XOF580 billion on the WAEMU market, already exceeding its annual target of XOF574 billion.
Earlier this month, the country, it is worth noting, repurchased its securities on the market for XOF17.5 billion.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo: UNOWAS Representative Talks Peace and Stability Protection with President Gnassingbé
Leonardo Santos Simão, the representative of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) met with President Faure Gnassingbé, in Lomé, yesterday, September 14. With the Togolese leader, the recently-appointed representative talked about the security and humanitarian issues currently facing the region.
The UN representative, on the occasion, said he was ready to collaborate with Togolese authorities to bolster the UNOWAS’ presence in the region and to better coordinate efforts made by the West African and Sahel countries to preserve peace and stability.
"The President of the Republic shared with me, his vision of the challenges in the region as well as the successes achieved. He especially insisted on the need to work together for the consolidation of peace and stability, the fight against terrorism and climate change," said Santos Simão.
The UNOWAS’ focus on Togo was spurred by the country’s successful interventions aimed at protecting peace and stability in the region.
UNOWAS is responsible for preventive diplomacy, good offices, and political mediation and facilitation efforts in West Africa and the Sahel.