Togo First
Coronavirus: Government will collaborate with producers and importers of hand sanitizers to keep up with booming demand
The government of Togo plans collaboration with producers and importers of hand sanitizers. A call for expression of interest was launched in this framework.
The move comes as the country experiences a shortage, and surge in prices of these products which are used to prevent infection to covid-19. Through the collaboration announced, authorities wish to ramp up their production to meet an ever-growing demand, as well as making sure the sanitizers are sold at a fair price.
Producers and importers interested in collaborating with the government can register on the trade ministry’s website, latest by April 6, at 5:30 PM.
Togo's government seeks XOF400 billion to cushion coronavirus' impact on the economy
The Togolese government seeks to raise XOF400 million to cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
The sum corresponds to the budget of a fund created especially to preserve the economy against the disease which continues to spread across the continent. This was announced by president Gnassingbé last Wednesday.
No Togolese citizen will be ignored in this battle we are fighting together, the leader said.
The amount mentioned is about 30% of Togo's budget for 2020 (around 1400 billion). It will be used to finance all socioeconomic measures initiated by the government to mitigate the virus' impact on the economy, support businesses, SMEs and SMIs especially.
The funds sought by authorities should come from the State, its partners, and any other willing contributor.
Coronavirus: Togo declares state public health emergency for 3 months
In a speech addressed to the nation on April 1, 2020, President Faure Gnassingbé declared a 3-month state public health emergency in the country. The measure, which “has never been implemented in our country before, reflects the gravity of the crisis we are facing,” the leader said referring to the coronavirus outbreak.
While this state of emergency differs from a lockdown, authorities have imposed, until further notice, a curfew from 7PM to 6AM effective April 2.
To ensure compliance with the set safety measures, a mixed anti-pandemic force was dispatched. The special force which regroups 5.000 security agents was established by decree.
Soon, the government should initiate social measures such as the distribution of funds to those who are most affected by the crisis. In this regard, the President also announced yesterday that water and electricity would be free for three months, for the most vulnerable populations - adding to a reduction of the fees to access water, from XOF75,000 to XOF25,000.
On a larger scale, Gnassingbé announced the creation of a XOF400 billion national fund for economic solidarity to support businesses affected by the pandemic.
President Gnassingbé makes water and power free for the most vulnerable populations
Yesterday, President Faure Gnassingbé announced several social, political and economic measures to make life easier for the Togolese people as the coronavirus pandemic keeps spreading worldwide.
As part of these measures, starting this month, access to water and power is free for the next three months.
In detail, concerning water, households with a monthly consumption capped at 10m3, which corresponds to a bill of XOF2,000 will be exempted. As for power, the incentive exempts the most vulnerable households as long as the bill does not exceed XOF2,520 per month (thus totaling XOF7,560 over the three months of exemption).
The measure aims at cushioning the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the economy, and especially on the most vulnerable people.
Séna Akoda
Togo Terminal switches to electronic invoicing
To improve its services, Togo Terminal (TT), subsidiary of Bolloré Transport & Logistics Togo specialized in container handling and storage, has switched to electronic invoicing.
Electronic invoicing should become compulsory by the end of this month, TT warned while noting however that “all our clients have a period of three months to comply with the new procedure.”
The company will not be liable for any delays, stationing, demurrage and stationing costs, resulting from not registering to the dedicated platform, after the set deadline.
To enable its clients to get used to this platform, TT will first allow the issuance of invoices for imported containers under “the direct truck delivery” mode.
For these containers, payment of TT invoices can be made either through an Ecobank agency or through Flooz or the Ecobank Mobile App.
Séna Akoda
In Togo, banks and other financial institutions have changed their opening hours to slow the spread of the coronavirus
Effective April 1, 2020, banks and other financial institutions will be operating from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM for customers and staff members, respectively.
The decision, which was made by the Professional Association of Banks and Financial Institutions of Togo (APBEF-Togo), falls in line with the various measures taken by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
It is in the same framework that Ecobank recommended to its customers a few days ago the use of ATMs to avoid gathering in its offices. Similarly, the Togolese power utility, CEET, has instructed its customers to resort to digital platforms, preferably, for their various operations.
Germany will help Togo fight coronavirus
On March 31, 2020, the German embassy in Lomé announced that the European country would help Togo combat the coronavirus pandemic.
The support will mainly focus on: boosting prevention by improving communication and supplying protection equipment, improving diagnostic capabilities, and providing medical equipment to the resuscitation room at CHR Lomé.
Last week, Togo received from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma the first batch of medical equipment and testing kits he had promised.
So far, Togo has officially confirmed 36 Covid-19 cases, including 24 undergoing treatment, 10 patients who have recovered and two deaths.
Covid-19: the University of Lomé appoints an ad hoc commission of researchers to find efficient treatment against the virus
The University of Lomé (UL) has put in place an ad hoc commission to research efficient treatments against the coronavirus (Covid-19).
The commission regroups biologists, microbiologists, infectiologists, virologists, pharmacists, pharmacologists, jurists, economists, sociologists, psychologists, and anthropologists.
According to the president of the University of Lomé, Prof. Dodzi Kokoroko, “they will test various molecules they already have in their respective laboratories on the Covid-19 virus, isolate some of their active ingredients, and in combination with traditional medicine proceed to clinical trials.”
Already, some sources mention the combination of chloroquine and Azithromycin as recommended by French Professor Didier Raoult. Apivirine, a herbal drug, also gave encouraging results in Burkina Faso, as well as local traditional medicine.
A budget of XOF40 million will be allocated to the commission for the research.
Also, the team of Togolese scientists will have access to the state-of-the-art laboratories of the Regional Centre of Excellence for Avian Sciences (CERSA) in addition to the ESTEBA’s microbiology and food quality control laboratory (LAMICODA).
The commission will be led by the national chief of scientific research, Prof. Kouami Kokou.
At present, Togo has reported 36 Covid-19 cases, 10 of whom have recovered, two deaths and 24 undergoing treatment. While it was revealed that the two dead individuals had health issues, no detail was disclosed regarding treatments administered to the 10 that recovered.
Destuffing at the port of Lomé will no longer be carried out at usual sites
Until further notice, the usual destuffing platforms of Lomé - Lomé Container Terminal and the Destuffing Centre of the Autonomous Port of Lomé (PAL)- are out of use.
The decision, validated by the PAL’s director, Fogan Adegnon, is part of measures taken by Togo’s government to mitigate the propagation of the coronavirus in the country.
In the meantime, Adegnon indicated, destuffing will be done on dedicated areas in towns while adding that “all concerned parties should adopt regulatory measures in this framework.”
Séna Akoda
Togo’s government commits to doing everything to protect jobs as coronavirus pandemic threatens economic activities
Last Monday, the minister of public works, Gilbert Bawara, said the government would do everything to protect jobs as the coronavirus pandemic threatens not only health but the whole economy as well.
The official was meeting with representatives of syndicates and the private sector. Amongst the latter was Germain Mèba, president of the Togolese chamber of commerce and industry (CCIT).
Part of the potential measures to prevent job losses includes alternance and temporary lay-offs, a syndicate representative revealed. Whatever the case, definitive lay-offs are not part of solutions envisaged by the authorities.
Regarding public transportation, the government is evaluating the question. In the meantime, authorities demand that all drivers (taxi and taxi-bikes) act responsibly to prevent the spread of the virus.
For his part, Germain Mèba, president of the CCIT, said the private sector is still waiting for concrete measures that will ensure that it does not suffer most from the coronavirus pandemic.
Séna Akoda