Togo First
Greater mobile penetration drives up the number of internet and social media users in Togo
In Togo, 96% of the population has access to mobile phones. This, according to the 2021 Digital Report recently released by We Are Social and Hootsuite, explains the increasing access to the internet and greater presence of Togolese on social media.
Based on the report, there were 124,000 new internet users in the country in 2019-2020. Overall, the number of internet users in the country in this period was 1.7 million, thus 21% of the overall population.
The increase in the number of internet users was driven by activity on the mobile segment, due to greater use of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, or Twitter. Indeed, still over the period reviewed in the report, there were 81,000 new social network users, thus 14% more than the year before. In all, 650,000 social network users were recorded in Togo (7.9% of the population). More than 96% of them were active on social platforms via their smartphones.
It is worth noting that Togo counts 170,000 internet users present on LinkedIn, mostly men (70%). This allows advertisers to reach 4% of the population with targeted ads.
Regarding the types of phones used by people in Togo, most of the mobile internet users prefer Android devices (87.3%) to other OS. Only 3.7% of these users are using iOS devices.
Worldwide, We are Social and Hootsuite in their report estimated that half a billion people more joined social networks in 2019-2020. There were 4.2 billion social media users that year, with more than 98% cconnecting via mobile devices.
Klétus Situ (intern)
The government initiates efforts to boost the roots and tubers sector
The government of Togo intends to boost productivity and yields in its roots and tubers sector, in the coming agricultural campaign. To this end, the Togolese Ministry of Agriculture organized last week a practical training for about a hundred actors active in this sector.
The participants, who came from the Maritime, Plateaux, Central, and Kara regions, were taught techniques of multiplication and conservation of yam, cassava, and sweet potato. The training session, which lasted the whole week, took place at the Centre Agronomique du littoral in Davié, about ten kilometers north of Lomé.
Grown in many varieties, these three crops occupy more than 15% of the country's total agricultural area. They are grown in 35 out of the country’s 39 prefectures, thus forming the basis of important agri-food value chains.
Yam, cassava, and sweet potato are food crops with proven development potential. Cassava, for example, is processed into various derivatives: tapioca, gari, starches, bread, chips, and French fries.
Klétus Situ (intern)
First phase of AT2ER’s mini-solar networks to cover 129 communities
On Jan 29, the Togolese Agency for Electrification and Renewable Energies (AT2ER) released the list of 129 communities it had picked to benefit from the first phase of the mini-solar networks electrification project.
This is a new milestone for the project which should cover 317 rural communities in Togo. 11,000 kW of installed power and 480 km of distribution network will be deployed for some 45,000 subscribers.
Works projected include developing, co-financing, building, and maintaining mini-solar and distribution networks. There is also the supply, and commercialization of power generated.
It should be noted that in Q4 2019, the AT2ER, the government’s arm in charge of clean energy, issued a pre-qualification notice for developers of mini-solar networks, in line with this project.
Séna Akoda
AfDB has committed CFA265 billion to Togo so far, more to come
So far, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed around CFA265 billion in Togo. The figure was disclosed by the resident representative of the Bank, George Bohoussou, whose three-year term in the country has come to an end.
“The current portfolio, in terms of commitment, between the AfDB and Togo, is about 265 billion FCFA (...) and we expect it to increase because there are projects whose second phases are in preparation,” said the outgoing representative.
Ecobank will inject CFA150 million in young entrepreneurs’ projects in Togo
Ecobank will financially back young entrepreneurs in Togo, providing CFA150 million.
The financing will be provided in accord with a partnership agreement signed between the lender and the Togolese Ministry of grassroots development, youth, and youth employment. The convention was signed on January 28, 2021.
“This agreement will lay the foundation for collaboration between Ecobank Togo and the Ministry in charge of youth through FAIEJ,” said the minister of youth, Myriam Dossou-d'Almeida, delightedly. “It will also enable the implementation of a program aimed at promoting access to credit for young people at attractive conditions while integrating the advantageous conditions of Ecobank’s ‘Ellever’ program”, she added.
Covid-19: Togo’s response to the pandemic is the second-best in Africa (Survey)
Togo is the second-best country regarding response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Africa and the 15th worldwide.
This is the conclusion of a global survey conducted by Lowy institute, a Think tank that looked into the issue. The study covered 98 countries for which data was available; for over 36 weeks that followed every country’s 100th confirmed Covid-19 case.
The performance was evaluated based on the following six indicators: confirmed cases, confirmed deaths, confirmed cases per million people, confirmed deaths per million people, confirmed cases as a proportion of tests, and tests per thousand people.
Greater Lomé district holds public management workshop for its agents
The Autonomous District of Greater Lomé (DAGL) is boosting the capacities of its agents in public management. Around 20 of them are participating in a training workshop on the program budget and the multi-year programming of revenues and expenditures held this week in Kpalimé.
According to the DAGL, this workshop, which will be followed by more, "aims to modernize the DAGL’s operations" as stated in the entity’s 2021-2023 training plan. This is in a context where the results-based management model has been adopted as a key principle by Togolese public administrations.
“Given the challenges we face, we should now, in our operations, seek to reduce costs, work faster, more effectively and efficiently in the interest of the people of Greater Lomé,” said Tagba Ataféyinam Tchalim, Secretary-General of the District.
Benefiting from the support of the French Development Agency (AFD), this series of training, led by a consulting firm, will continue in March and will focus on internal audit and quality approaches.
The present workshop started on February 1 and it will last 4 days.
Klétus Situ (intern)
Minister of rural roads warns contractors behind schedule on PAPR and PAEMePR
The companies in charge of maintenance and construction work under the Rural Road Support Program (PAPR) and the Annual Mechanized Maintenance Program for Rural Roads (PAEMePR) are behind schedule.
According to the minister of rural roads, Kanfitine Tchede Issa, who called the firms “black sheep,” the two projects concerned should have been completed respectively in 12-14 months and 4-6 months. In effect, however, some of the contractors have consumed 114% of the set schedule, for a completion rate of 65.5% only.
The minister thus warned the companies to catch up on their delay within two months maximum. Otherwise, they will be issued an ultimatum, and if necessary their contracts will be terminated.
Séna Akoda
Parties found to be involved in fraudulent transactions to pay a heavy tax fine
Anyone in Togo involved in a business, financial, or any other transaction must identify their business partner or partners. Failure to do so is sanctionable by a fine amounting to 50% of the transaction’s value. The penalty is set by the 2021 Tax Procedure Book.
When the beneficiary of a shady transaction is not identified, parties involved will equally share the payment of the tax associated with the operation as well as a fine equivalent to 50% of the transaction’s value.
This rule forces those doing business together to primarily identify their clients or suppliers to avoid transactions they carry out from being defined as fake or shady.
It will make it easier for the tax authority to verify the authenticity of amounts declared, and if business partners are real or fake. Ultimately, the goal of the measure is, according to sources from Togo’s Tax Office (OTR), to fight tax evasion and tax fraud. When parties involved in a transaction are not identified, the person who collected the VAT does not transfer it into our accounts.
Hence, “if the goal is to hide the identity of the customer or supplier, or the transaction, we will assume fraud and the 50% fine will be applied,” said a tax expert.
Séna Akoda
Tax authority introduces a measure to reward responsible taxpayers
To reward good taxpayers, the Togolese Tax Authority (OTR) decided to issue them tax discharge certificates valid for a year. The documents enable responsible taxpayers to easily complete specific formalities, concerning submission to tenders for example.
Other taxpayers, those less disciplined, will receive by default a tax regularity certificate, valid for three months. They will thus have to renew it repeatedly in a year. “In the former finance bill, the tax regularity certificate was the equivalent of the tax discharge,” an expert told Togo First.
However, he indicated that this document made no distinction between good taxpayers and simple taxpayers.
Séna Akoda