Togo First
Covid-19: Togolese health pass holders urged to download updated version of the document
Togo has updated its Covid health pass and urges current holders to download the new version, in order to use it in the European Union (EU) and other African countries.
The news was disclosed by the ministry for posts and digital economy which is behind the technology.
The pass, which is available for download on a dedicated website, was recently recognized by the EU and the African Union (AU).
Proparco committed to supporting Togo’s 2025 development roadmap
Proparco, the French development finance institution, recently said it is committed to backing Togo in implementing its development projects. A delegation from the institution expressed its support to President Faure Gnassingbé yesterday, in Lomé.
The Proparco delegation is presently taking part in the Rencontres Africa forum which was recently started in Lomé.
"I had the opportunity to meet the President of the Republic and I have told him about the goals we aim at in regards to our participation in the Rencontre Africa in Lomé. I believe that with PROPARCO's support, our local partners will become stronger and continue supporting the growth of startups and SMEs, thereby enabling them to play a greater role in the creation of jobs and value in Togo," said Gregory Clemente, Proparco's Managing Director after meeting with President Gnassingbé.
This commitment to supporting Togo’s economic development “perfectly aligns with the Togolese government’s development strategy”, added Proparco’s boss.
Before meeting the Togolese leader, the French delegation met with some local young entrepreneurs and they talked about the difficulties that these youths face in getting financing. Both sides then explored options to tackle the issue.
Proparco is the subsidiary of the French Development Agency (AFD). Its mission is to foster sustainable development in the economic, social, and environmental spheres. The institution intervenes mainly in the following sectors: infrastructure, renewable energy, agribusiness, financing, health, and education.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo: Tax Police Unit to soon adopt a new 5-year strategic plan
The Togolese Tax Policy Unit (UPF) - a technical team that assists the Minister of Economy and Finance in the mobilization of domestic resources - has been working since November 30 on its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. A methodological framing meeting for the elaboration of this document was opened for this purpose, in Lomé.
"At the end of the process, which officially begins today, it is expected that the 2022-2026 strategic plan of the Tax Policy Unit will be translated into a short-term action plan that will strongly support existing achievements related to the implementation of the reform that established the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR)," said Kossi Tofio, Director of Cabinet of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
For his part, Ahiakpor Koffi Delalom, Director of the UPF, said: "We will examine all the elements which will allow us to have a methodological framework to draw our strategic plan that will serve as a compass for 5 years.”
Established through a collaboration between the Togolese government and its technical and financial partners, including the World Bank through the Economic Governance Support Program (PAGE), the UPF is a tool that supports Togo's fiscal policy.
As such, it, among others, monitors the OTR’s activities, proposes ways to modernize, simplify and improve the Togolese tax system, and steers the strategy for international tax relations.
Togo: Deputies are reviewing the 2022 budget bill
The National Assembly has been working since Tuesday, November 30, on Togo's 2022 budget bill. The assessment was launched by the President of the National Assembly, Yawa Djigbodi Tsègan, in the presence of some government representatives, namely the Minister of Economy and Finance, Sani Yaya, and the Minister in charge of relations with the institutions of the Republic, Christian Trimua.
"Similar to the year 2021, Togo’s 2022 budget bill will take the form of a program budget. It focuses primarily on the continued structuring and approving of procurements and strengthening the role of financial controllers," said the parliament.
"In this context, Togo has chosen a recovery-oriented budget bill. The situation is good, growth is possible and within reach. This is the time to prepare Togo for economic success by 2025, amid the disturbing health and security issues we currently face. This clarity and readability of the finance bill are quite valuable for the citizen's confidence," said the President of the National Assembly Yawa Djigbodi Tsègan, while urging the members of the committee to have frank and constructive discussions, towards a thorough review of the draft bill submitted by the government.
The 2022 budget is projected at CFA1,760 billion in expenditures and revenues, according to the draft adopted by the government on November 12. This amount is 15.7% more than in 2021 where it stood at CFA1,521.3 billion. Optimistic but cautious, in a context of recovery still marked by global uncertainties, the budget bill projects growth at 6.1% in 2022, against 5.3% expected in 2021.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togolese PM presents Togo’s key assets at Rencontres Africa forum
The Rencontres Africa forum opened today in Lomé. On this occasion, Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé, Togo’s PM, presented to investors five major assets that make her country the perfect place for investments.
Tomégah-Dogbé gave her speech during a panel on climate business. Another eminent figure present on this panel was Lionel Zinsou, former Prime Minister of Benin and founder of Southbridge. Zinsou advised Togolese authorities in the framework of the transfer of the Nouvelle Société cotonnière du Togo (NSCT) and the negotiations with Arise regarding the Adétikopé integrated industrial platform (PIA).
The Togolese PM, during the opening panel, focused on her government’s vision for growth, peace, security, the youth, the country’s strategic positioning, and the commitment of local authorities to pursue reforms.
Regarding Togo’s vision, she stressed that Togo is a country whose leaders know what they are doing and where they are going, due to a clear vision. A vision which, she added, helped foster a peaceful and safe environment, “a key prerequisite for any ‘serious” investor.”
In regards to the positioning of Togo, Victoire Dogbé mentioned its access to the sea which makes the country a door to landlocked states and a regional logistics hub.
Concerning reforms, noting the significant achievements made by Togo, the Togolese official said “we will continue introducing bold reforms” to create a more attractive environment for investors.
The Rencontres Africa gathers more than 350 Togolese economic operators, over 100 French businesspeople, and around 2,000 other participants.
Togo: The National Health Insurance Institute will steer the universal healthcare project
Togo’s national health insurance institute (INAM) was selected to steer the universal healthcare (AMU) project that has been in the pipeline for some months now. A decree was adopted to this end by the council of ministers that gathered last Saturday.
"The second draft decree entrusts the management of universal health insurance (AMU) to the National Institute of Health Insurance (INAM)," says the Council’s communiqué. This follows the adoption of the AMU by the Togolese National Assembly a few weeks ago.
Established 10 years ago, INAM operates in the public sector. With the adoption of this decree, it can now deploy the tools needed to facilitate enrollment, collection of contributions and information management, towards implementing the AMU.
The AMU, let’s recall, aims to guarantee access to quality healthcare for all social layers of the Togolese population, notably through a mechanism of risk pooling and solidarity in financing.
Fiscal citizenship: 2021 Togo Top Impact is on!
The fourth edition of Togo Top Impact (2021) was launched last Saturday. The event, which celebrates a winning Togo, is promoted by the National organization for excellence and integral development (ONEDI-Togo). Held every year, it gives awards to figures or entities that have marked that particular year.
The theme picked for this year is “Fiscal Citizenship and Development: Assuming Your Role as a Citizen for Post-Covid Economic Recovery”. Togo Top Impact, in 2021, will celebrate local development and decentralization, fiscal citizenship, and women empowerment, according to ONEDI-Togo.
Two new awards were added for the new edition: Best female leader and Best municipality.
"Decentralization has been in place for two years and it is necessary to honour the communes (...) This year, we have chosen to change a little, to bring something new, ‘the best municipality’ award is part of the main innovations," said Saturday David Baini Djagbavi, one of the promoters of the event.
"Municipalities that will be nominated will be those that have contributed to boosting fiscal citizenship in their area (knowing that Togo has 117 municipalities, editor's note)," he added.
Overall, 10 categories will be awarded this year, based on the deliberations of a jury of experts and the popular vote.
Note that the TTI 2021 is sponsored by Kodjo Adedze, Minister in charge of trade in Togo, and has among other partners, the Semoa startup, and Togo First.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo sets up new fund to accelerate universal access to electricity
The council of ministers of Togo set up last Saturday, a new fund, called Tinga, to “facilitate access for electricity to low-income households”. The project aligns with the government’s goal to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030.
In effect, the fund will provide repayable loans to households seeking electricity. "Our goal is to provide all citizens, regardless of their standard of living, access to reliable and affordable electricity by 2030," said President Faure Gnassingbé during the meeting.
Other initiatives sharing the same goal include the CIZO project—a three-year scheme under which rural households get a monthly allowance. There is also the installation of the Kékéli Efficient Power thermal plant and a solar power plant in Blitta.
Let’s not forget the PERECUT or Program for the Extension of Electricity Networks in Urban Centers of Togo, which the European Union backed last week with a CFA9.5 billion financing, the PRISET (Projet de Réformes et d’Investissements dans le Secteur de l’Énergie au Togo) and the PEREL (Projet d’Extension du Réseau Électrique de Lomé) initiatives.
Esaïe Edoh
Covid-19: Togo to administer the third dose to people over 40 years old
In Togo, people over 40 years old are to get the third dose of Covid vaccines. This was decided last Saturday, during the Council of Ministers.
“Due to the emergence of new waves and new variants, the council instructed the Minister of Health to accelerate the vaccination campaign and to administer the third dose to people over forty years,” reads the council’s statement. Incidentally, Moustafa Mijayawa, Togo’s Minister of Health, said the country has received nearly 5 million doses of Covid vaccines and has more than one million people vaccinated so far.
This update follows the recent launch of a fast-paced vaccination campaign by the government to boost immunization coverage and comes shortly after the European Union recognized the Togolese Covid health pass. It also comes a few days after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the apparition of a new variant, called “omicron.” The new strain, which raises concerns, was first identified in South Africa and has been detected in Botswana, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Australia.
At the moment, the WHO does not know if “Omicron” is more transmissible than other variants, or if it causes a more serious case of the disease.
According to WHO data, Togo reported 26,232 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 243 deaths from January 3, 2020, to November 26, 2021. Also, the country has administered over 1.5 million doses of vaccine over the period.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togolese gvt’ commits to accelerating social programs
The Togolese government will speed up the implementation of social projects for populations. The commitment was made last Friday after the second government seminar held in Kara, northern Togo.
The officials present at the seminar assessed the implementation of the 2020–2025 government roadmap, with a focus on key projects such as the universal health insurance program, universal access to drinking water, building housing units, collecting data on socio-economic infrastructure, and digitizing public administration. They also looked at Covid’s impact on the roadmap’s implementation.
According to the statement released following the meeting, President Gnassingbé, based on the assessments’ results, stressed the need to achieve the “results that the population expects.” Similarly, his ministers talked about “improving coordination, project preparation and the legibility of project achievements.” In this regard, the officials noted that a “reinforced coordination” would be crucial.
The government roadmap breaks down into three main components, namely greater inclusion, social harmony, and consolidating peace; creating jobs for the youth; modernizing Togo and improving existing structures.
Esaïe Edoh