On April 10, 2021, a webinar on investment in Togo will be held. The news was revealed by the High Council of the Togolese Diaspora (HCTE), which is behind the initiative, together with Togo Invest. 

The webinar will focus on those who dare and entities backing investors, such as existing institutional and financial mechanisms. Moreover, participants will learn more about the structural tools adopted by Togo to boost investment and improve the business climate. Another presentation will showcase the role of the African diaspora in the development of the continent. 

The initiative aligns with Lomé’s intent to raise funds for the 2020-2025 roadmap. 

Séna Akoda

On Monday 29, 2021, Kayi Mivedor and Kodjo Adedze, respectively Togo’s ministers for investment promotion and trade, participated in the Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF), a virtual meeting where the two officials urged French bosses to invest in Togo. This is in a context where the African country is currently seeking funds to finance its five-year (2020-2025) development roadmap. 

During the event, the ministers touched on Togo’s economic situation and prospects for development. They also talked about projected reforms and sectors that the Togolese government considers to be key for growth. 

The webinar should pave the way for talks related to investment projects by Fench firms in Togo. Most of the session was dedicated to business issues. 

Séna Akoda

Rehabilitation works on the Sadori-Mango segment of the Kanté-Tandjouaré road which was visited four months ago by Prime Minister Victoire Sidemeho Tomegah-Dogbe are 80% complete now. 

The information was disclosed by Television Togolaise (TVT) citing the minister of public works, Kassah-Traoré. 

The road, which was extremely bad, dusty, and the cause of various road accidents, is now paved, according to the Togolese authorities. It has been completely rehabilitated and is, therefore, safer and time-saving. 

Actors involved in the construction works, who were encouraged by the PM to accelerate the project, are committed to completing the works by June.

Séna Akoda

Over CFA500 million will be spent by the National Fund for Professional Training and Perfectionning (FNAFPP) to build and rehabilitate seven school infrastructures. The institution is backed by KfW, Germany’s financial arm. 

According to the tender document related to the project, the schools are located in various regions, such as Kara, Dapaong, and Atakpamé. 

The consortium ETTB/ICO BTP and the firm IS Construction won the bid to take over the project. The former will receive more than 300 million CFA while the latter will get around CFA200 million. 

In Togo, it should be recalled, the budget allocated to the education sector is CFA195.5 billion. The main goals of the authorities in this sector are “the construction of classrooms for all, the supply of learning and pedagogic equipment as well as recruiting and training teachers.”

Séna Akoda

Works to rehabilitate 30km of roads in Atakpamé (161 km from Lomé) were recently launched by the mayor of the Ogou 1 municipality, Yawa Kouigan. 

The works should add to the government’s efforts to further modernize Togo. “For many years now, the Togolese government has been implementing ambitious development programs aimed at creating a modern country with a sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” said the Atakpamé native. 

Details such as the project’s cost, how long it will take, and the names of companies in charge of the works were not disclosed since these works’ volume is yet to be determined. 

According to Kouigan, a participative approach was adopted to carry out the project. “We participate based on our capacities. Together, we reflect on what needs to be done. A party provides equipment, another provides fuel to power them, another pays workers, and another looks for materials,” she said. 

“If we don’t start somewhere on our own, we will vainly ask others to provide us with what we need…,” the mayor declared. 

However, Kouigan urged companies located in Atakpamé to enter “a virtuous and fruitful partnership with the municipality, through the exercise of a societal responsibility freely subscribed where they will support the municipality to develop economic projects and preserve the environment.”

Séna Akoda

Poland - the world’s third-largest apple producer and the first in Europe - wants to reinforce its economic relationships with Togo. In this framework, the new Polish ambassador to Togo, Joanna Tarnawska, met earlier this week with the Togolese minister of trade, industry, and local consumption, Kodjo Adedze.

On this occasion, the diplomat expressed Poland’s interest in various projects falling under the Togolese government’s economic development roadmap. The European nation is especially interested in the industry and trade sectors. The two officials also talked about Poland providing Togolese SMEs and SMIs technical support in these sectors, as well as in trade between the two countries’ various economic operators.  

Togocom and the Axian Foundation, respectively the subsidiary and foundation of the Malagasy group Axian, launched on March 25, two 5-year schemes to support education and health in Togo. The programs which were launched in Lomé are called Nunya Togocom and Lanmesen TMoney. 

Through Nunya Togocom, the firm wants to “improve access to primary school and improve education conditions, by building classrooms in areas that have little or no access to decent school infrastructure.” Lanmesen, on the other hand, will mainly target youths and promote preventive health through physical exercise. 

A convention was signed in this framework between Togocom, the Axian Foundation, and the Ministry of Primary, Secondary, Technical Education, and Craftsmanship. 

Moreover, the Axian Foundation is elaborating and deploying the group’s corporate social responsibility strategy in partnership with its diverse subsidiaries. 

Klétus Situ

Togo and Ghana continue negotiations regarding the delimitation of their shared maritime borders. On March 23, 2021, the technical negotiating committee set up for this purpose started a meeting in Lomé. 

This meeting, the sixth since the process began, could lead to the elaboration of a draft agreement and a delimitation plan that will be proposed to the governments of both countries for adoption. “It is important that these talks are conclusive by the end of 2021 so that our States can truly leverage resources offered by the sea,” said Kokou Edem Tengue, Togolese Minister of Maritime Economy, Fisheries and Coastal Protection, who opened the meeting.  

On the Ghanaian side, they insist on the clear will at the summit of the two States to settle the dispute by consensus. “You will recall that there were some problems at the border, but the two Presidents have committed to negotiate to resolve these problems to advance economic activities between the two countries,” said General Emmanuel Kotia, coordinator of the National Border Commission of Ghana and head of the delegation. 

The last meeting, held in the Ghanaian capital last August, had resulted in the identification of the coordinates of the first good land border between the two countries. 

The government of Togo has issued new measures to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic in a context where the country faces a surge in cases (over 700 in the past week). 

In the council of ministers held on March 25, 2021, Lomé decided to reinforce the Covid-19 Monitoring Mixed Taskforce, adding at least 1000 members of the security and defense forces to the group. 

Also, the authorities deemed it urgent to speed up the vaccination campaign across the Grand Lomé region. They also stressed preventive measures such as the ban on mass gatherings (sports events, burials, weddings, cultural events). Regarding burials especially, the council of ministers recalled that only up to 15 people are allowed to regroup for the occasions. 

In the same vein, gatherings at places such the Bonké Place, Tiens Casablanca, the LONATO’s agencies, and the Limousine roundabout (Avedji) are also not to be frequented. 

According to the government, controls at borders and entryways giving access to markets will be reinforced. Meanwhile, access to the beach is still banned. 

As for places identified as vectors for the disease, knowingly bars, and places of worship, they will be subject to strict controls regarding the respect of barrier measures. 

The government is also looking at imposing a new curfew in the coming days, depending on how things progress. It warns in the meantime against misinformation on social media and networks, saying those behind the practice are punishable by law. 

Séna Akoda