Togo First
Togo: The government assures that the ongoing academic year will not be canceled
The 2019-2020 academic year will not be canceled. This was disclosed on April 13 by the minister for primary and secondary education, Affoh Atcha Dedji.
The announcement aims at reassuring those concerned by such an eventuality. Let’s recall that all schools have been closed in Togo since March 20th due to the Covid-19.
To continue classes, the ministry of primary and secondary education considers switching to distance and e-learning (TV, radio, and internet).
The government also plans to support around 12,000 teachers from private schools.
Concerning fixed examination dates, the official said: “new dates could not be fixed at the moment.” The same goes for the reopening of schools.
Social safety is key in the fight against Coronavirus, Faure Gnassingbé affirms
In a recent article published in the Financial Times, Togo’s President, Faure Gnassingbé, declared: “No matter how effective the developed world’s approach to the Covid-19 pandemic might be in terms of protecting public health, it simply will not work in Africa without social protection.”
“Almost 85% of African workers - be they small farmers, street-food vendors, waste collectors, transport operators, or nomadic merchants - operate in the informal sector.” Also, “many survive day to day” so they will be torn between staying safe and surviving.
“Restricting their movement means they will not be able to put food on their families’ tables,” the leader said. He then went on asserting that “the most effective way we can come to their aid is via cash transfers.”
The Novissi scheme
In this regard, President Gnassingbé mentioned the Novissi scheme launched by his government: this is a cash transfer initiative that is “designed to support all Togolese informal workers whose incomes are disrupted by the Covide-19 response.”
It is extremely simple to benefit from the scheme: Any informal worker aged 18 or older whose revenue has been affected by the crisis and who can prove their identity with a valid voting card will receive a state grant worth at least 30% of the minimum wage. More exactly, women will get XOF12,250 per month while men will receive XOF10,500.
“The aim is to help beneficiaries pay for basic daily necessities such as food, sanitation, and communication,” Gnassingbé indicated while noting that his administration has already waived water and electricity charges for the most vulnerable. It will help cushion them from the economic impact of complying with measures implemented to contain the pandemic.
“Women will receive the highest possible payouts, as they are more directly involved in nurturing the entire household. Payments will also be made directly to the mobile money accounts of beneficiaries. This is quick, reduces the risk of fraud and eliminates contact with cash, which many fear may help spread the virus.”
In total, more than 800,000 people have registered for the scheme and more than 383,000 have already benefited. For this program, the government has disbursed more than XOF2.2 billion so far.
“People should not have to choose between death by Covid-19 or by hunger,” declared Gnassingbé while urging other African leaders to adopt similar systems to help their people: “Enrolment is quick. Funds can be transferred rapidly. The system is transparent and easy to audit.”
An unprecedented undertaking
The Togolese president believes this initiative will be an unprecedented undertaking while adding the key role that partners’ support will play in the process. “Now more than ever, the support of international donors, development partners, philanthropists, friends of Africa and, crucially, national diaspora can make a difference.”
“However, victory in the fight against Covid-19 will ultimately be judged not just by our ability to save lives, but also by our ability to keep millions of people from falling back into abject poverty.”
Let’s recall that Faure Gnassingbé also recently put in place a solidarity fund to help Togolese SMEs cope with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. The State hopes to raise XOF400 billion for this fund.
Covid-19 : Classes at the University of Lomé will take place online
After suspending classes due to the Coronavirus crisis, the University of Lomé has decided to shift to e-learning.
“Measures taken to handle the Covid-19 crisis, notably the closure of schools and universities, have compromised the 2019-2020 academic year. Therefore, the Social and Collaborative Network of the University of Lomé, RESCOUL, which has proved its effectiveness over two years of use will be used more to allow bachelor and masters’ students to continue classes”, the University announced.
Created two years ago, the RESCOUL facilitates interactions between members of the community of the University of Lomé. With it, all students (more than 64,000) enrolled at the university will be able to take classes online.
Séna Akoda
Cuba sends doctors to help Togo fight Covid-19
A contingent of 11 doctors from the Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade in Cuba has arrived in Togo to help fight the coronavirus.
Togo is therefore the second African nation to receive Cuban doctors, after Angola.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Central American nation has gained the admiration of many. Last month, as many Cuban doctors arrived in Italy to help the European nation handle the crisis, they were received as heroes.
It should be noted that Cuba has one of the world’s best health systems.
Its support to Togo adds to China’s which recently sent some masks, test kits, and ventilators among others to the country.
So far, Togo has confirmed 76 cases of Covid-19, 44 active, 29 recovered, and 3 deaths, for nearly 2,600 people tested.
Junior ATIGLO-GBENOU
Togo: CEET to get more than XOF5 billion from the State in line with the free power measure
During the three months of health emergency declared in Togo, the government will spend more than XOF5 billion to provide electricity to some power users.
Beneficiaries are prepaid and postpaid low tension users, thus 340,000 households in the country. According to the ministry of energy who revealed details about the measure, the State should provide the power utility, CEET, XOF1.7 billion monthly throughout the emergency period.
The measure is to be effective today, April 13, 2020, and beneficiaries will all get XOF4,760 (for 40kWh) as power credit. Prepaid users will get the credit in advance and for postpaid users, the amount will be deducted from their total consumption for the month.
Séna Akoda
HAPLUCIA calls on youth and women entrepreneurs to support anti-fraud actions
The High Authority for the Fight against Corruption and Related Infringements (HAPLUCIA) calls on young and female Togolese entrepreneurs to support its anti-corruption actions.
As part of a public awareness campaign, entrepreneurs are called to print out advertising messages that will be displayed on giant 12m² billboards. Messages will be displayed for 3 months at the entry and exit of 9 cities, namely Lomé, Aného, Kpalimé, Tsévié, Atakpamé, Sokodé, Kara, Dapaong and Cinkassé.
According to the Authority, offering this opportunity to young and women entrepreneurs is part of the government’s measure to increase the quota for public procurement contracts reserved for young and women entrepreneurs to 25%.
Séna Akoda
Covid-19: Ecobank introduces fee-free electronic transactions to support clients
In addition to the measures it announced to curb the spread of the Covid-19, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) has established fee-free electronic transactions.
According to the information disclosed on April 9, 2020, Ecobank clients will not pay fees when sending money via SMS or e-mails. The same applies for invoice payments, transfers via e-cards and operations via the bank’s app. Even Money transfers from Ecobank to other banks is fee-free.
The idea, the bank informs, is to help clients during the health crisis caused by the Covid-19. Ecobank Togo, under the government’s Coronavirus preventive measures, encourages clients to use electronic transaction methods, like ATMs, as much as possible.
Also, it temporarily suspended its operations in some of its agencies. Only 17 of its agencies are now operating in the whole country, with strict respect for preventive measures, we learn.
Séna Akoda
Togo: Social assistance program Novissi to cost government XOF12 billion
Novissi, the programme initiated to support citizens who have lost their daily income due to the Covid-19 preventive measures, will cost the government XOF12 billion.
According to the Minister of Energy and Mines Marc Dedèriwè Ably-Bidamon, these estimates made by the government should cover all 3 months of the promulgated state of emergency.
These initial estimates could be exceeded, “if the circumstances require so,” (i.e if the state of emergency is extended or renewed).
He reminds us that Novissi is a social initiative to help vulnerable persons and families during the state of emergency and warns potential fraudsters. "Fraudsters will be found, prosecuted and punished following the law," he says.
In the framework of Novissi, XOF20,000 will be transferred to cart bike drivers (half transferred every two weeks), XOF10,500 to men and XOF12,500 to women.
Séna Akoda
Deadline for the submission of bids for the hotel project at Lomé’s airport postponed to July 2020
All investors interested in the project involving the construction and operation of the hotel at Lomé’s airport (AIGE) now have until July 3, 2020, to submit their bids. Initially set on April 3, 2020, the date was postponed by the Société Aéroportuaire de Lomé-Tokoin which runs the AIGE.
The project which can be fully or partially financed aligns with the government’s goal to make tourism one of the country’s economic pillars.
Under the 2018-2022 national development plan, Togolese authorities plan to increase this sector’s contribution to 6.2% in 2022, from 4% in 2015. They intend to achieve this by focusing on business tourism and creating at least 10,000 decent jobs.
Séna Akoda
Coronavirus: Togolese startup Semoa launches a WhatsApp-based diagnosis assistant
Togolese e-banking startup Semoa has launched a free Whatsapp assistant that helps users diagnose Coronavirus symptoms.
Dédé, as the assistant is named, uses artificial intelligence and “provides immediate answers about the Covid-19 to users. It also conducts diagnosis and gives steps to follow afterward.” The assistant, beyond its diagnosis component, informs users about prevention measures and gives them advice in case they have been exposed to the virus.
To activate the assistant, users must text “Bonjour” to the following number via WhatsApp: +228 99 05 05 05
Semoa hopes that the tool will “ease communication traffic with emergency services during the outbreak, in addition to relaying names of suspected cases to treatment centers so that they are rapidly taken care of.”
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