Togo First
Schools reopen on June 15, 2020
In Togo, closed for the past two months due to the coronavirus outbreak, schools will reopen on Monday, June 15, according to official sources.
The decision, taken jointly by the government and actors of the education sector, only concerns final year pupils of primary and junior high schools; second and third-year students of senior high schools. Still, it is a precursor to the progressive restart of activities in the country.
Schools were closed, it should be recalled, for a good reason. Authorities had taken to reduce the spread of Covid-19 among students and teachers. The restart of classes however was decided after multiple meetings between concerned parties. In its framework, authorities have recently announced that 1.2 million face masks would be made and distributed, freely, in schools.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Ministry of agriculture appropriates programme-based budget tools
The Togolese State is gradually appropriating new budgeting tools such as the programme-based budget which was introduced last year in replacement of the resource-based budget.
Indeed, actors of the planning, programming, budgeting, and monitoring chain (PPBSE) of the ministry of agriculture are currently getting to know more about these new tools; the training workshop began on June 11 and will close on June 13.
The public servants gathered for this purpose are in effect being trained on how budgeting tools are developed. Besides, they are also to appropriate the 2021 budgetary calendar.
Let’s recall that switching to a programme-based budget (focused on performance as well) is part of the reforms undertaken by Lomé to streamline public finances.
In Togo, the government will provide 1.2 million face masks to schools as they reopen
The ministry of grassroots development and craftsmanship has launched a project aimed at producing in the next two weeks, 1.2 million face masks. The latter will be distributed, at zero cost, to schools across the country since they are about to reopen.
The initiative is in effect steered by the national agency for support to grassroots development (ANADED) which is part of the ministry, and the national health insurance institute (INAM).
To achieve this endeavour, the two partners will count on 1,500 tailors and seamstresses all over the country. Masks produced will be reusable and washable.
In addition to enhancing safety in schools, the project also “helps create employment for artisans who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Fleur Essoh, regional coordinator ANADEB.
Togolese borders to soon reopen, Covid-19 response team says
Togo prepares to reopen its borders, restart flights, and reopen its schools. The news was disclosed by the national coordinating team in charge of the Covid-19 response (CNGR), in its latest weekly press briefing.
“We are progressively headed towards the reopening of borders, and the restart of flights as well,” said Col. Djibril Mohaman who heads the CNGR.
In this framework, competent authorities are actively preparing to ensure that travelers arrive in the best conditions while taking some precautions. One of the steps taken by these authorities in this regard involves setting up a mobile laboratory where travelers will be tested at the Gnassingbé Eyadema International Airport.
Also, it must be emphasized that reopening borders will be a concerted decision taken with other Member States of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
So far, Togo has confirmed 522 covid-19 cases, including 244 active and 265 who have recovered.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
The PNPER has spent XOF311 million on rural businesses since the year started
Since the beginning of the year, the National Project for Rural Entrepreneurship Promotion (PNPER) has financed 69 business plans, disbursing XOF311 million in the process.
The government-led project is backed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Its goal is to “progressively and sustainably transform Togo’s rural economy by supporting and promoting micro, and small businesses.”
According to reliable sources, despite the coronavirus, the PNPER keeps financing youths and women, ensuring that their businesses thrive.
The project is currently identifying farming cooperatives and associations in need of financial support in rural areas. After this step, identified businesses will be evaluated based on specific criteria, before awarding them the financial support they seek.
Séna Akoda
Covid-19 agricultural response: ITRA’s contribution
Under the Covid-19 agricultural response, the head office of the Togolese institute for agricultural research (ITRA) will give high-yielding varieties of cassava to farmers, breeders, and fish farmers. The move aims at helping these actors boost their respective outputs which were clobbered by the virus.
To be precise, beneficiaries will get white-fleshed and yellow-fleshed varieties, as well as broodstock and seedlings produced by the institution’s research.
Togo’s covid-19 agricultural response aims at adding up nearly XOF230 billion to the country’s agricultural revenue. Besides cassava, authorities hope to increase the outputs of cotton, corn, and rice, to 225,000 t, 2 million t, and a little more than 330,000 t, respectively.
Public policies keep up with the program to revive the tourism industry in Togo
A few years ago, Togo started a program to revive its tourism industry. As part of the latter, various steps were taken to rehabilitate hotels and sustain tourist sites.
To achieve this goal, which aligns with the 2018-2022 national development plan, the ministry of tourism will undertake some rehabilitation works at the 30 Août Grand Hotel in Kpalimé.
Let it be recalled that the ministry had, in the same framework, launched a tender to hire a firm to rehabilitate the Kara hotel. It did the same to rehabilitate the Womé waterfalls site and the road leading to this site.
These various projects should benefit populations living around the sites concerned and ultimately contribute to the growth of the economy.
Séna Akoda
For expatriates, Lomé is the second least expensive capital city in the WAEMU (Mercer survey)
The survey which covered 209 cities, including 42 in Africa, indicates that the Togolese capital is the second city across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) where life is less expensive for expats.
However, in the world, Lomé is ranked 154th and 23rd in Africa in terms of the cost of living in general. In this regard, it is the sixth most expensive capital city in the WAEMU, coming before Ouagadougou which is the least expensive in the Union, 162nd worldwide, and 26th in Africa.
Abidjan, according to the survey, is WAEMU’s most expensive capital city for expats. It is followed by Dakar, Niamey, Cotonou, and Bamako. Guinea Bissau, which is also a member State of the WAEMU is not ranked in the survey.
In Africa, Victoria (Seychelles) is the most expensive capital city. It comes right before N’djamena which was previously the first. At the opposite end is Tunis, which is the least expensive, both in Africa and the world.
The survey integrates criteria such as the cost of accommodation, transport, food, clothing, house appliances, and leisure.
Séna Akoda
Covid-19: More than 500 cases confirmed as Togo prepares to restart its economy
Last Tuesday, Togo passed 500 confirmed cases of Covid-19, about three months after the first case was reported. Out of the infected, 260 recovered and 13 died, according to official sources.
In Togo, the time it took for the number of cases to double is presently estimated at 26 days (against an average standard of 7 to 10 days). This rate is similar to other countries of the region, notably Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali. Also, the infection curve has relatively flattened.
Distribution of cases in Togo
In detail, about half of the infected (51.90% exactly) have recovered, against 45% still active. Meanwhile, the country recorded a mortality rate of 2.59%, according to official figures.
Imported cases, which caused the overall number of confirmed cases to peak a few weeks ago, now make up about 40% of infected individuals, against 62% for locally infected cases. Most cases are situated in Lomé and its surroundings.
Other figures show that the greatest share of infected cases are aged between 25 and 34 years (more than 152 cases); next are individuals in the 35-44 years age range (125 cases) and 15-24 years (87 cases). Regarding the mortality rate, the largest group affected is that of people of more than 45 years (5 deaths over 13), followed by those aged between 35 and 44 years (4 deaths over 13).
Time to restart the economy
Now, Togolese authorities are taking steps to restart the economy while ensuring that populations keep following the imposed safety measures.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Public administrations in Togo resume work at regular hours
Togolese administrations will soon restart operating at regular hours. “With the curfew lifted, it simply means we will return to regular working hours,” said Gilbert Bawara, the minister of public works.
He, therefore, put an end to the new working hours set up (9 AM to 4 PM) due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “The exceptional measures taken previously are no more effective,” he added.
Regardless of the shift back to normal, safety measures are still to be respected. Also, the official stressed, “exceptions regarding working hours or staff rotation will be made to prevent offices from being crowded.”
The decision of the government concerns only public administrations. Private institutions are free to set their working hours as they see fit, provided they abide by enforced laws and rules.