Togo First
Gilbert Bawara, the New Minister of Parliamentary Relations
Veteran Togolese minister Gilbert Bawara has been appointed Minister of Relations with Parliament and Institutions in the first government of the Fifth Republic.
Born on March 13, 1968, in Siou (Doufelgou Prefecture), Bawara holds a degree in public law from the University of Geneva. He began his professional career in 1994 within the United Nations system, where he worked for a decade in various positions before entering the Togolese government in 2005.
Bawara’s first government role was as Minister Delegate to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and African Integration, responsible for Cooperation. Since then, he has remained one of the most prominent and consistent members of Togo’s executive branch.
Through multiple cabinet reshuffles, he has led several strategic ministries, including Development and Spatial Planning, Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Local Authorities. He has also served repeatedly as the government spokesperson, becoming a recognizable voice of executive policy.
Between 2010 and 2012, Bawara served as Special Advisor to the President of the Republic before returning to the cabinet. His career has since been marked by continuity, loyalty, and close involvement in state reform and governance.
Lomé Hosts BlueInvest Africa 2025
Lomé is hosting the third BlueInvest Africa Forum on October 15-16, 2025, an initiative by the European Commission held in partnership with the Togolese government. The event aims to connect investors and entrepreneurs in the blue economy. After earlier forums in Seychelles and Kenya, Togo is the first French-speaking African country to host the gathering.
The forum brings together more than 200 participants, including blue economy entrepreneurs, EU officials, financial institutions, and 24 African startups showcasing maritime and coastal innovations. It aims to boost sustainable investment and strengthen Africa-Europe cooperation on marine resources.
Gwilym Ceri Jones, the EU ambassador to Togo, said Lomé’s selection “reflects the country’s growing role in West Africa’s maritime sector.” He added that the event aligns with the Global Gateway program, which has attracted more than €306 billion in global investment, a large share of it in renewable energy and coastal infrastructure.
Stanislas Baba, secretary-general of the Togolese government, highlighted the country’s progress in maritime development. “A €396 million investment in the second phase of the Lomé Container Terminal has lifted annual capacity to 2.4 million TEUs,” he said. “In September 2025, a €7.5 million dredging project deepened the channel to –18.6 meters and the terminal basin to –17.6 meters, enabling it to handle container ships of 19,000 to 24,000 TEUs.”
Backed by a dynamic generation of young entrepreneurs, BlueInvest Africa 2025 aims to promote sustainable and inclusive business models. The highlight of the event is a pitch competition offering tailored support for the winning projects.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Launches Second Phase of Mono Basin Water Management Project
Authorities in Yoto Prefecture, southern Togo, launched the second phase of the Integrated Water Resources Management in the Mono Basin Project (GIRE-Mono II) on Friday, October 10, 2025.
Valued at 143.39 million CFA francs, the two-year project will run from April 2025 to March 2027 and is expected to benefit about 50,000 residents in the Yoto I, II and III communes.
This phase aims to strengthen local water governance, build climate resilience, and promote sustainable agriculture. It follows an earlier phase, carried out from 2019 to 2022, which focused on building water infrastructure and creating community-based management structures.
Under GIRE-Mono II, planned activities include reforesting seven hectares of riverbanks, creating school gardens, building eco-friendly toilets, and forming a local water management committee.
Yoto Prefect Lieutenant Colonel Djossou Agossa praised Togo’s decentralization reforms, while local mayors reaffirmed their commitment to contribute 10 million CFA francs each to the project’s funding.
The initiative is supported by France’s Seine-Normandie Water Agency (AESN), Delabie, SIEP-Picardie, SIEP Secteur Régie, and Rouen Métropole, and is being implemented by NGOs PADIE and Experts-Solidaires in partnership with local authorities.
Launched in 2022, the broader GIRE-Mono program aims to improve water management and climate resilience in border regions and will continue through 2027.
R.E.D
New Cross-Border Market Launches in Northern Togo to Drive Trade and Cohesion
A new market opened on October 11, 2025, in Bengola, in the Cinkassé 1 commune, northern Togo. The five-hectare facility was built under the Social Cohesion Project (COSO), with support from the Local Authorities Support Fund (FACT) and USAID, as part of efforts to spur economic activity and strengthen community ties.
The Bengola market, which will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, includes five covered stalls, a butcher shop, a borewell, sanitation facilities, and sheltered trading areas. Situated near the point where Togo, Ghana and Burkina Faso meet, the market is expected to become a hub for regional trade and integration.
Cinkassé Prefect Colonel Yanani Tiekabe and Mayor Nagnango Koundjo welcomed the project, saying it supports the local economy while promoting peace and social cohesion.
The COSO project is a regional initiative aimed at strengthening economic and climate resilience among border communities in Gulf of Guinea countries, including Togo. Funded by the World Bank and implemented by the National Agency for Grassroots Development Support (ANADEB), it operates in 40 border districts, mainly in the Savanes region, with additional programs in Kara and Centrale.
Launched on June 17, 2022, COSO is scheduled to run until 2027. It was initially funded with 33 billion CFA francs, later increased by nearly 14 billion CFA francs, including a $23 million allocation dedicated to supporting local communities and refugees.
Togo’s Fifth Artisan Days Highlight Digital Shift in Local Craft Sector
Togo is celebrating the fifth edition of the Togo Artisan Days, JAT, from October 15 to October 24, 2025, under the theme: "Le numérique au service de la promotion de l’artisanat : enjeux et défis (The Digital Age Serving the Promotion of Craftsmanship: Issues and Challenges)"
The event, held under the Ministry of Trade, Craftsmanship, and Local Consumption, is part of the "Consume Local" month initiative. Its primary goal is to enhance the visibility of Togolese artisans and their expertise.
"This theme calls on us, the artisans, to adapt to the changes of the modern world," said Mouhamed ISSA, President of the Union of Regional Chambers of Trades of Togo, at the official opening of the event.
This year’s JAT specifically highlights the sector's digital transformation, which has already begun with the digitization of registrations and examinations for the Certificate of Apprenticeship Completion. Authorities are now promoting the use of digital tools for marketing, training, and networking among artisans.
The event includes workshops, regional mini-fairs, and community actions designed to bring local products closer to consumers and stimulate domestic demand.
R.E.D
Togo Integrates Private Insurers into Universal Health Coverage Governance
Togo’s National Social Security Fund, CNSS, and the National Health Insurance Institute, INAM, the bodies managing the Universal Health Insurance, AMU, program, signed partnership agreements with several insurance companies on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, in Lomé. These agreements aim to facilitate policyholders' access to supplementary coverage tailored to their specific needs.
The partnership connects the CNSS and INAM with members of the Committee of Togolese Insurers, CAT, the Togolese Federation of Insurance Advisors, FETAC, and the National Framework for Consultation of Mutual Health Organizations of Togo, CNCMUT.
Dissaliba Winga, representing the Minister of Health, Public Hygiene, Universal Health Coverage, and Insurance, stated that the initiative contributes to building an inclusive and collaborative system. "Universal Health Insurance is not an end in itself, but an evolving process founded on the complementarity of actors and the public's trust," Winga said.
The convention establishes the basis for shared governance of Togo’s health coverage system by involving public and private stakeholders in building a more equitable and resilient society.
Ingrid Awadé, Director General of the CNSS, stated that the signing has a clear objective: to strengthen the population's protection against health risks. "We have laid solid foundations, but the reality of health needs is evolving. Hence the necessity for a more complete offering, co-constructed with the private sector," she said.
This framework agreement now creates a bridge between the public basic coverage and complementary offerings from the private sector. Implemented since January 2024 by INAM and the CNSS, the AMU project seeks to guarantee access to healthcare for the entire Togolese population, regardless of their sector of activity.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo opens Japan-funded solar water plant serving 3,000 people in Zio 4
A new potable water treatment plant worth CFA104.6 million has been commissioned in Gapé-Kpédzi, in the Zio 4 municipality of Togo. Funded by Japan, the project aims to provide sustainable access to clean water for local residents.
Built on an ecological model, the station operates with a solar-powered slow sand filtration system. It draws water from the Zio River, located about 300 meters from the site, and purifies it to meet drinking water standards.
The facility is expected to serve over 3,000 people in Gapé-Kpédzi and neighboring villages. It was implemented by the Togolese NGO Partage et Action en Synergie pour le Développement (PASYD) with technical support from the Japanese company Yamaha.
Beyond its health benefits, the project offers local economic opportunities through technical training and job creation, particularly for young people, helping to reduce rural unemployment.
The initiative aligns with the Togolese government’s policy to achieve universal access to safe drinking water by 2030.
Togo Revenue Authority to Auction 13 Shipping Containers Tomorrow
The Togo Revenue Authority (OTR) will hold a public auction of 13 shipping containers containing assorted goods on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Customs Operations Directorate of the Lomé Autonomous Port.
The auction is intended to dispose of goods abandoned or seized by customs, offering buyers the opportunity to acquire a range of items at competitive prices.
The sale is open to the public, and items will be awarded to the highest bidder. Payments must be made in cash on site and are subject to a 12% fee. Participants must pay a non-refundable registration fee of 25,000 CFA francs to the port customs office prior to the auction.
Regularly held by the OTR, the initiative helps improve port inventory management and generate non-tax revenue for the public treasury.
Faure Gnassingbé to Attend Aqaba Security Summit in Rome
Togo’s Council President Faure Gnassingbé will attend the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government Meeting in Rome on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2025, where discussions will center on the security crisis in West Africa.
The Togolese leader, who has helped mediate several regional crises, is expected to outline Togo’s approach to peace and stability during the international meeting.
The summit brings together African heads of state and international partners to address counterterrorism, transnational crime, cybercrime, and maritime piracy. Participants will explore ways to enhance security coordination and support development initiatives across the subregion.
In Rome, Gnassingbé will present Togo’s national strategy, which focuses on community development and good governance. The visit will reaffirm Togo’s commitment to playing an active role in advancing coordinated solutions for regional security and stability.
Launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan and co-chaired with Italy, the Aqaba Process promotes international cooperation to combat transnational threats and strengthen the resilience of states facing security challenges.
Togo’s FACT Pledges Enhanced Municipal Support After Review
The Technical Secretariat of Togo’s Local Authorities Support Fund (ST-CG-FACT) plans to strengthen its support for municipalities in carrying out state-funded projects under the fund. The move follows the identification of weaknesses in how several local authorities have managed their allocations.
According to a statement from ST-CG-FACT obtained by Togo First, the review highlighted shortcomings such as project delays, limited technical oversight, and challenges in municipal project management. These findings stem from an assessment mission that reviewed investments made by communes using 2024 FACT allocations. The mission concluded on October 4 after more than a month of fieldwork.
“These findings help us better identify where support is most needed, particularly in planning, procurement, and capacity building,” said Koumtchane Siangou, Technical Secretary of the FACT Management Commission.
Despite the challenges, the mission also noted clear progress in local management.
“Overall, we observed a genuine commitment by the communes to implement their projects properly. Many completed works meet specifications and are already benefiting the public,” the official added.
The Technical Secretariat will prepare a comprehensive report based on the mission. The document will guide new support and intervention strategies, to be shared with all stakeholders involved in decentralization. They will be invited to contribute recommendations to improve the fund’s effectiveness.
For 2024, the state allocated 8.5 billion CFA francs to the communes through the FACT, a national financing mechanism for local authorities aligned with Togo’s decentralization policy.
Esaïe Edoh