In Togo, the government plans to achieve maximum internet coverage as quickly as possible. In that regard, it “will extend and improve the digital coverage of the territory,” revealed Cina Lawson, Togolese Minister of Posts, Digital Economy and Technological Innovation, in a recent release.

“Our target is that by 2022, 90% of the population will have access to broadband internet,” she added.

In preparation for the achievement of this goal, the responsible ministry sought the best points of passage that are most consistent with the existing infrastructure (railway network, the network of ISPs and telecom operators in the country, E-Gov) and with users’ needs. 

For the government, the challenge of developing very high-speed communications networks has become central. Indeed, "many areas, including trade, health, administration, and culture highly depend on digital technology,” the ministerial department informs.

Over the last three years, the Internet penetration rate has tripled from 7% in 2016 to 21% in 2019 to reach 1.71 million users, according to available data.

In Togo, the foundation stone of a ginger and pepper processing plant was recently laid in Gbadi-Nkougna, the Plateaux region.

Planned to be completed by 2022, the project is led by Boss Approche Agricole, which partnered with German and Canadian companies.

Its minimum yearly processing capacity is 200,000 tons of ginger.

The plant, a XOF13.5 billion investment, will boost farmers’ yield and create several direct and indirect jobs, according to Agence Togolaise de Presse (ATOP).

According to Koudjo Bossiadé, MD of Boss Approche Agricole, spurred by the plant, the ginger sector will create 4,000 agricultural jobs. The sector will also create 1,000 labour jobs (collection, storage, processing, and marketing).  

Séna Akoda

Between 2010 and 2018, Togo’s cotton output rose from 27,000 tons to 137,255 tons. This is due to the restructuring of the sector following the creation of Nouvelle société cotonnière du Togo (NSCT), and the establishment of a national federation of cotton farmers. 

While cotton greatly boosted the Togolese economy over the period reviewed, it is not the only cash crop to have played this role. Indeed, official data indicates that outputs of coffee and cocoa increased by 72% and 107%, respectively, between 2012 and 2018. In detail, the country produced 19,076 tons of coffee in 2018, against 10,843 tons in 2012. As for cocoa, in 2018, it was estimated at 12,674 tons (against 6,126 tons in 2012). 

These results were registered in a context where the country’s agricultural sector recorded an average growth of 6% per year in 2010-2018, with a peak of 14.32% in 2014. 

Though it welcomes these performances, public authorities now want to boost access to financing for local agricultural actors (through initiatives such as the MIFA), and invest more in processing.

Togo, via the Ministry of Agriculture, recently signed a specific agreement in the framework of its soil fertility map elaboration program. Through the agreement baptized "Convention Spécifique n°2," Moroccan Foundation OCP will enhance its support to the country for the elaboration of the said map.  

Togo is in partnership with OCP in the framework of a 2-year program aimed at assessing the level of fertility over needs in terms of fertilizers. The program (called Fertitogo) will help Togo introduce fertilization techniques based on a precise knowledge of the soil and its fertilizer needs.

The estimated investment for the program is XOF695 million (XOF150 million to be provided by OCP and XOF541 million by Togo). 

To date, 50.46% of the national territory has already been sampled by the Togolese Institute of Agronomical Research (ITRA). In addition, thematic maps are already available for the Savanes and Kara region. A digital platform will be built for the fertility map of agricultural soils. 

Togo’s independent national electoral commission (CENI) released yesterday night provisional results for the presidential elections. 

Leading the polls is the outgoing president, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, with a majority of 72.36% of votes (1,938,889 votes exactly). Just behind him are the candidates of the MPDD and ANC, Kodjo Agbéyomé (18.37%), and Jean-Pierre Fabre (4.35%). 

Just after the announcement, Gnassingbé who is the candidate of the Union pour la République party (UNIR), commented: “Thank you for the renewed trust.”

A total of 2,769,286 voters were numbered according to the CENI. 

The provisional results will be relayed to the constitutional court which will publish final results in a week. 

Votes percentage for other candidates: 

Aimé Gogué : 2.38%

Wolou Komi : 1.14%

Georges Kouessan : 0.77%

Tchassona Traoré: 0.63%

While it is usually closed during presidential elections, Togo’s land borders will remain open for the coming polls set for this Saturday, February 22. 

This is to enable those using the three borders (Burkina Faso, Benin, and Ghana) to keep moving across them freely. Security forces, having voted 72 hours in advance, will remain in office that day.

This decision was lauded by ECOWAS. Francis Behanzin, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security at ECOWAS commented: “This is a good initiative and it should be replicated across the rest of the region.”

Let it be recalled that the electoral campaign ended yesterday, at midnight. Seven candidates will run for the Togolese presidency, including the current president, Faure Gnassingbé.