Togo will subsidize petroleum products with CFA25 billion in 2025. According to the source, the Ministry of Trade, the government’s goal is to lower the products’ prices and support households struggling amid the recent inflation. The statements were made during talks about the 2025 budget in Parliament.

The subsidies will apply to super unleaded, petroleum, diesel, and two-stroke mix, reducing prices by up to CFA233 per liter, depending on fuel type. It is worth noting that a price cut at the pump has been implemented since December 10, 2024.

Lomé also plans to subsidize domestic gas with CFA9.6 billion. This should increase people's purchasing power and lessen the impact of international price changes on the economy.

In 2022, Togo allocated CFA25 billion for petroleum subsidies, according to former Trade Minister Kodjo Adédzé.

Esaïe Edoh

Last year, 14,919 new businesses were officially registered in Togo. The figure is 13% down compared to 2023–15,654 businesses–but 4.6% more than in 2022–13,835 businesses.

Most of the new businesses registered in 2024 were Togolese-owned: 12,371. In 2023, Togolese owners had registered 13,032 businesses, 4% more than last year. Foreigners also registered fewer businesses in 2024: 2,548 against 2,622 (-2%) in 2023. 

On a positive note, the number of businesses started by women increased to 4,450 in 2024, up from 4,297 in 2023, up 3.5% from one year to the other. Women-owned businesses made up 30% of all new businesses registered last year. In contrast, the number of businesses started by men dropped by 7.8%, from 11,357 to 10,469.

Over the past few years, the Togolese government has ramped up efforts to boost its business climate, to foster business creation and attract investments. Among others, Lomé made it easier and cheaper to start a business. It also dematerialized the registration process to encourage entrepreneurship.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Togo will allocate CFA10 billion to the Local Authorities Support Fund (FACT) in 2025, up 42% from CFA7 billion in 2024. The figure was outlined in the 2025 finance law, which has a total budget of CFA2,397 billion.

The increase follows a monitoring mission at the end of 2024 that assessed how communes used their 2023 funds. According to the Ministry of Land Planning and Development, this mission’s findings will help bolster the government's commitment to enhancing financial support for local authorities.

The CFA10 billion to the FACT is part of a broader government strategy to enhance local authorities' resources and capabilities while compensating for expected cuts in investment grants from external partners between 2023 and 2026.

Besides the FACT, Lomé still directly supports communities, through cash transfers and targeted investments. The Faîtière des communes du Togo (FCT) reported that over CFA30 billion has been allocated to Togolese communes from 2020 to 2024, helping them meet local needs and drive development.

Overall, the government seeks to help all 117 municipalities be more autonomous and achieve sustainable management. In this regard, the municipalities have been drawing plans to guide their actions and diversify funding sources. This aligns with decentralization goals, enabling local authorities to improve their financial stability and resource management.

Esaïe Edoh

The Togolese government plans to spend CFA4 billion in 2025 to compensate owners who were expropriated for the social housing project in Kpomé. This was announced by the Ministry of Urban Planning, Housing, and Land Reform before Parliament at the end of last year.

These funds are part of a larger project that will cover 1,177 hectares and provide 20,000 affordable housing units. According to the Minister, most compensation has already been paid, except for a few areas where some dispute remains.

The Kpomé social housing project has three main phases. The first phase included feasibility studies, technical validation, and market analysis with support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and African Development Bank (AfDB). The second phase involved preparatory work like site demarcation and installing markers. The final phase will focus on building the housing units.

This last phase is expected to start in the coming months and will be managed by a property development company working with Shelter Afrique.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

This year, all 33 Togolese ministries will share a budget of CFA1,122 billion, up from CFA1,030 billion in 2024. The monies will fund 130 projects across the various ministries. Here are the five ministries with the biggest budgets:

1.  Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education: CFA183 billion  

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will receive CFA183 billion. This is thus the fifth time, in a row, that this ministry gets the lion’s share. This amount is CFA8 billion less than in 2024. Over the past five years, the budget has increased by 20% from CFA152 billion in 2021. Of this budget, CFA17 billion will be for operations, CFA106 billion for preschool and primary education, and CFA59 billion for secondary education. The funds will help improve the education system by hiring new teachers, training volunteers, and providing IT equipment for schools.

1.  Ministry of Armed Forces: CFA119 billion

The Ministry of Armed Forces is next, with CFA119 billion, slightly above last year’s budget. The CFA119 billion includes CFA10 billion for military strategy, against CFA33 billion in 2024, CFA62 billion FCFA for defense support, and CFA29 billion for purchasing modern equipment.

1. Ministry of Health: CFA114 billion

The Ministry of Health will have a budget of CFA114 billion in 2025, up 3.6% from CFA110 billion in 2024. The funds will finance the ministry’s efforts to provide quality healthcare to as many people as possible. In detail, CFA63 billion will improve healthcare services, and CFA26 billion will be used to fight diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. Additionally, CFA3 billion is earmarked for health emergencies, and about CFA16 billion will cover operating expenses.

1.  Ministry of Public Works: CFA92 billion

The Ministry of Public Works will see its budget rise by 8% to reach CFA92 billion in 2025, up from CFA85 billion in 2024. Most of this money will be used to develop the national road network. Specifically, CFA72 billion will go to road construction and rehabilitation, while CFA18 billion will serve for maintenance and CFA1 billion for planning and evaluation.

1. Ministry of Mines and Energy: CFA62 billion

The Ministry of Mines and Energy rounds out the top five with a budget of CFA62 billion, a 5% increase from last year's allocation of CFA59 billion. Nearly all of this budget will fund energy projects. For example, the funds will help expand the Blitta solar power plant’s capacity to 100 MW, launch the Sokodé PV plant project, and install solar street lamps projects. Additionally, CFA1 billion will help support and better monitor mining activities nationwide while CFA650 million will support the ministry's operations.

Esaïe Edoh  

Starting January 31, 2025, the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) will stop using physical tax stamps. This decision, announced by OTR General Commissioner Philippe Kokou Tchodié, is part of a plan to digitize public services and make tax processes more efficient.

Taxpayers will now use electronic tax stamps, which can be purchased online or through the OTR’s collection windows. According to the OTR, this change will simplify administrative procedures and reduce risks related to handling physical stamps.

The move follows the recent digitization of the Motor Vehicle Tax (TVM) and is part of Togo's goal to digitize 75% of administrative procedures by 2025.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

The Togolese Ministry of Security and Civil Protection just launched an online platform to report police abuses. The platform was introduced on January 8. Users can anonymously report any misconduct, ranging from excessive use of force to arbitrary arrests.

Commenting on the development, Calixte Batossi, Minister of Security and Civil Protection, declared: “This initiative aims to encourage citizens to make their voices heard by reporting abuses, and the efforts of the authorities in promoting security that respects human rights.” The official added that the move would also help build trust between citizens and law enforcers.

The new platform can be accessed via Togo’s public services portal. The latter allows users to report various abuses and offers administrative services like entry permits and security coverage for events.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Lomé hosted a workshop on January 8 to validate Togo’s state of competition report.  Participants–economic and institutional leaders–discussed progress and challenges related to competition in the country.

The report was drawn with input from business, civil society, and public service representatives. It highlights the country's economic performance and the work of the national competition authority.

Atekpe Makiliwè, Director of Internal Trade, mentioned that 2024 focused on promoting competition and studying important sectors such as e-money transfers and e-commerce contributing to Togo's digital growth.

The recent meeting aligns with the standards of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), which backed the report’s development. Ibrahim Tankari, an advisor to the WAEMU commission, lauded the Togolese government for protecting consumers while improving the economic environment.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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