Togo First
Togo: Chamber of Commerce and Industry launches survey to assess losses that businesses may incur due to coronavirus
Togo’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT) has launched an investigation to assess the impact of the coronavirus-related health crisis on Togolese businesses.
In this framework, business operators will provide (on a dedicated survey form) their turnover for H2 2019 and January-February 2020.
Besides determining how earnings of businesses have been impacted, the survey aims at identifying challenges they face, regarding supply, sales, access to loans, good transport, access to information, etc.
Based on the survey results, the private sector will relay to the government their expectations as well as measures planned to cushion the impact of the pandemic.
Séna Akoda
Togocel cancels fees for all T-Money transactions to mitigate the spread of coronavirus
In Togo, all T-Money transactions are now free. This was announced by Togocom group which owns the digital platform.
The move aims at making it easier for T-Money users to proceed with their transactions and avoid physical contact as much as possible to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
By canceling the fees for all T-Money transactions (money transfer, deposits, airtime and data purchase, bill payment, etc.), Togocom follows the steps of others like the power utility (CEET) or Ecobank Togo who both respectively urged their customers to preferably use digital platforms and ATMs.
Coronavirus: BCEAO lowers its intervention rates to support WAEMU economies
Last Friday, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) announced the launch of tenders, with a few amendments. Among the latter, the apex bank set a fixed rate of 2.5% for the tenders - its lowest intervention rate so far.
The reduction of the rate is part of measures announced on March 21st, to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on banking systems of WAEMU countries. These measures should in effect allow banks in the region to access funds at a low cost and provide more loans (at low rates) to businesses and governments.
In addition to reducing its intervention rate, the BCEAO plans on cutting costs for e-money transactions. Talks with concerned actors are ongoing to this end. The bank is also working to ensure adequate cash supply.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Coronavirus: With a few exceptions, no more travelers will disembark at the Lomé airport for two weeks
Over the next two weeks, no more passengers will be allowed to disembark at the airport of Lomé. The restriction applies to both Togolese citizens and foreign travelers.
The measure, which aims at preventing the saturation of the only reception center of the airport, was effective since the end of the previous week. Exceptions include those in transit, cargo aircraft, and stopover flights.
Let’s recall that the government has also forbidden movement of people (not goods) across its land borders.
So far, Togo has confirmed 34 coronavirus cases, including 10 who have recovered and one who succumbed to the disease. The remaining 23 patients are under treatment.
France, Germany and the EU laud Togo’s efforts at improving economic governance and business climate
In a note sent to president Gnassingbé last Wednesday, French president, Emmanuel Macron, congratulated the Togolese leader for winning the recent elections.
I also laud efforts made in terms of economic governance and business climate, as reflected in recent global rankings, the French leader said. France will continue supporting the implementation of the national development plan in the sectors of education and access to basic services, Macron added.
The message from the French leader was followed by a similar note from the European Union and the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Speaking on behalf of the EU, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen, respectively presidents of the EU council and the European Commission, said that the union would continue supporting Togo’s “institutional and economic reforms, as well as efforts for dialogue and reconciliation, started some years ago.”
The German leader declared that his country would support economic and social development in the African country, with a focus on projects that will boost democracy and rule of law.
This is good news for Togo which, like other countries, is combatting the coronavirus pandemic.
World Bank to provide seven West African nations, including Togo, $379 million to improve their statistics systems
Seven West African countries, including Togo, will get $379 million from the World Bank, in the form of loans and grants, to reinforce and harmonize their statistics system.
The support was approved by the World Bank’s board on March 26, 2020. It aligns with a regional project that mainly aims at raising demand for quality data, as well as boost capacities of the respective national statistics offices of benefiting nations.
In detail, the funds should, among others, finance the harmonization of methods of the ECOWAS Commission; the increase of key socio-economic data (including that on demographics and poverty), optimization of administrative statistics, reinforcing of data sharing capacities, and institutional reforms. They should also help modernize and improve physical infrastructures.
Besides Togo, other beneficiaries include Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
EBOMAF in charge of construction works along the Lomé-Kpalimé axis
West African major construction firm EBOMAF will rehabilitate and reinforce segments of the Lomé-Kpalimé road. The works will begin mid-April.
In detail, the Burkinabe firm will build a 2x3 road on the Todman-Zanguera (15 km) line, and a 2x2 road on the Zanguera-Noepé axis. Additionally, a two-lane roadway (91km) will be built between Noepé and Kpalimé, as well as water retention basins in Todman, Segbé, and Adidogomé.
It should be recalled that EBOMAF has handled various projects in Togo. For example, it was in charge of construction works on the following axes: Borgou-Mandouri, Tandjouaré-Kanté, Pya-Sarakawa-Kanté, and Mandouri-l’Oti-Benin border.
Séna Akoda
Covid-19: Over 34 confirmed cases reported so far, 10 recovered and one dead
So far, Togo has reported 34 coronavirus-positive cases, out of which 10 have recovered, one died and the remaining 23 are undergoing treatment.
The first death was recorded last Friday. The deceased, Dominique Alizou, was Chief editor of the “Chronique de la semaine” newspapers. The 49-year old journalist had returned from Belgium where he spent two weeks.
As pictures of the late Alizou, in agony, were released on social networks after the announcement of his passing, the government declared in a communiqué that it would bring to court all those who published the shocking images.
“Such immoral behavior violates laws relating to privacy and must be punished,” the statement reads. The authorities also extended sincere condolences to the family of M. Alizou and media actors.
Coronavirus: Togolese government selects five free testing sites for suspected cases
In Togo, every person suspected to have been infected with the coronavirus can freely be tested.
The testing is carried out in five health centers, located in five of Lomé’s sanitary districts selected for this purpose by the National Institute for Hygiene. These are the Centre de Santé de Lomé (Quartier des Etoiles), of Kodjoviakopé, and the social-medical centers of Cacaveli, Adakpamé, and Amoutivé.
Last Friday, PM Komi Selom Klassou told deputies that so far, around 435 people who have had contact with the infected individuals have been identified. Out of these, 294 tested negative while 88 have been quarantined at the Lébénè Hotel where suspected cases are accommodated.
Currently, 30 people have tested positive for the virus; seven have recovered, one passed away and the rest are being treated.
To better handle the coronavirus crisis, Togo’s parliament transfers power decision to the government for six months
At the end of last week, Togolese deputies unanimously granted the government decision power to take necessary measures to handle the coronavirus pandemic, for six months.
According to the PM Komi Klassou, this crisis requires extreme reactivity and an exceptional adaptation capacity relative to prevention and protection measures established. The transfer of power decision would thus allow the government to quickly mobilize resources needed to cushion the pandemic’s impacts.
The official however reassured concerned citizens that the procedure solely aims at better protecting populations. The decision was taken to avoid tedious and long procedures to get urgent actions approved.
It is taken in a context where Togo recently recorded its first death of coronavirus. The country which has reported so far 30 confirmed cases, still has 22 people under observation, while seven have recovered.