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

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. 

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

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

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.

The National Health Insurance Institute (INAM) is looking to acquire a system to manufacture secure cards for its customers. 

In this framework, it reached out to seven firms that will be competing to win the related contract. The firms are Semoa, Teolis, Surys, Snedai, Imprimerie de France, Thales Gemalto, and In Group-Selp. They have until July 8, 2020, to submit their respective bids. 

Having a system that manufactures secure cards for its customers should improve the quality of its services and help better tackle fraud.

The project will be financed by the institution itself, under its 2020 budget. 

Séna Akoda

In markets of the Lomé-commune and Agoè-Asiyeye, booth fees were halved on June 8, 2020. This was revealed by an official statement. 

By taking this step, the government supports sellers who are strongly impacted by the drop in demand driven by the Covid-19 pandemic. It should be effective over the next three months.

The price cut adds to social and economic incentives taken by public policies in support of businesses (suspension of tax control and relaxation of tax collection operations for SMEs and SMIs). 

Let’s recall that in Togo, the turnover of more than 92% of registered businesses slumped in February-March 2020. In detail, more than one-third of private businesses recorded a 75% reduction in their earnings, according to a recent study carried out by the Togolese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT).

In Togo, now that the curfew is lifted, vehicles can restart circulating normally across the country. The decision was announced on June 9, 2020, after a meeting between the Togolese ministers of transport and security, Zourehatou Kassah-Traoré and Général Yark Damehane. 

Still, authorities maintain safe measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Among the latter is the need to wear face masks for all citizens, and the limited number of passengers boarding public transportation vehicles such as coaches, small buses, and taxis. For the coaches, the number of passengers cannot exceed 30. For 15-seat buses, the number of passengers allowed is 8 (including the driver), while taxi drivers can take no more than three passengers. 

Concerning transport fees, they have not changed, the government emphasized. 

Séna Akoda