A new potable water treatment plant worth CFA104.6 million has been commissioned in Gapé-Kpédzi, in the Zio 4 municipality of Togo. Funded by Japan, the project aims to provide sustainable access to clean water for local residents.

Built on an ecological model, the station operates with a solar-powered slow sand filtration system. It draws water from the Zio River, located about 300 meters from the site, and purifies it to meet drinking water standards.

The facility is expected to serve over 3,000 people in Gapé-Kpédzi and neighboring villages. It was implemented by the Togolese NGO Partage et Action en Synergie pour le Développement (PASYD) with technical support from the Japanese company Yamaha.

Beyond its health benefits, the project offers local economic opportunities through technical training and job creation, particularly for young people, helping to reduce rural unemployment.

The initiative aligns with the Togolese government’s policy to achieve universal access to safe drinking water by 2030.

The Togo Revenue Authority (OTR) will hold a public auction of 13 shipping containers containing assorted goods on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Customs Operations Directorate of the Lomé Autonomous Port.

The auction is intended to dispose of goods abandoned or seized by customs, offering buyers the opportunity to acquire a range of items at competitive prices.

The sale is open to the public, and items will be awarded to the highest bidder. Payments must be made in cash on site and are subject to a 12% fee. Participants must pay a non-refundable registration fee of 25,000 CFA francs to the port customs office prior to the auction.

Regularly held by the OTR, the initiative helps improve port inventory management and generate non-tax revenue for the public treasury.

The Technical Secretariat of Togo’s Local Authorities Support Fund (ST-CG-FACT) plans to strengthen its support for municipalities in carrying out state-funded projects under the fund. The move follows the identification of weaknesses in how several local authorities have managed their allocations.

According to a statement from ST-CG-FACT obtained by Togo First, the review highlighted shortcomings such as project delays, limited technical oversight, and challenges in municipal project management. These findings stem from an assessment mission that reviewed investments made by communes using 2024 FACT allocations. The mission concluded on October 4 after more than a month of fieldwork.

“These findings help us better identify where support is most needed, particularly in planning, procurement, and capacity building,” said Koumtchane Siangou, Technical Secretary of the FACT Management Commission.

Despite the challenges, the mission also noted clear progress in local management.

“Overall, we observed a genuine commitment by the communes to implement their projects properly. Many completed works meet specifications and are already benefiting the public,” the official added.

The Technical Secretariat will prepare a comprehensive report based on the mission. The document will guide new support and intervention strategies, to be shared with all stakeholders involved in decentralization. They will be invited to contribute recommendations to improve the fund’s effectiveness.

For 2024, the state allocated 8.5 billion CFA francs to the communes through the FACT, a national financing mechanism for local authorities aligned with Togo’s decentralization policy.

Esaïe Edoh

Lomé will host the first edition of the Real Estate and Energy Fair from October 17 to 19, 2025, at the CETEF exhibition center. The three-day event will highlight the construction and renewable energy sectors through a joint initiative by Fest’immo (Togo’s real estate fair) and Solar Days by SAER-Togo (Synergy of Renewable Energy Actors).

Architects, engineers, developers, investors, and solar equipment suppliers will meet under the theme “Renewable Energy in the Service of Real Estate.” Panels and training sessions will cover topics such as financing green real estate projects, using eco-friendly materials, and installing domestic solar systems.

According to Serge Adoté from the Synergy of Renewable Energy Actors (SAER), the event aims “to present a unique and optimal solution combining energy performance and sustainable construction.”

Participants will also discover the latest innovations in solar air conditioning, renewable energy-powered pumps, and bioclimatic building models adapted to local conditions.

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The second edition of the Lomé Youth Book Fair (SALIJEL) will take place from October 16 to 18, 2025. Organized by the association “Lire au Togo” with support from partners including the French Development Agency (AFD), the event will be hosted at the Institut Français du Togo, which is also a partner.

Following a successful first edition that attracted more than 8,000 visitors, SALIJEL 2025 will highlight cultural cooperation and the development of cultural and creative industries (CCI).

More than forty exhibitors, including publishers, booksellers, and illustrators from Africa and Europe, are expected to showcase their works and innovations through exhibitions, workshops, and professional meetings.

In addition to promoting youth reading, the event aims to strengthen Togo’s book industry, particularly in distribution and promotion in the digital age. In line with this, a national training session for Togolese librarians will be held under the theme “Libraries and Youth Reading in the Digital Era.”

Days after the formation of Togo’s first government under the Fifth Republic, Council President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé has completed the composition of his cabinet with three new appointments.

In a presidential decree broadcast on national television, General Yark Damehame was named Chief of Staff to the Council President. A former Security Minister and key figure in the national security establishment, Damehame now takes on a central role in coordinating the new administration’s political and administrative affairs.

Also returning is Pascal Bodjona, former Minister of State, who was appointed as a Senior Adviser. Known for his diplomatic experience and broad political network, Bodjona is expected to continue playing a key role in strengthening foreign relations and institutional dialogue.

Finally, Edem Tengue, former Minister for Maritime Affairs, has joined the Council President’s inner circle as a Senior Adviser.

These appointments further shape the administrative structure of the Fifth Republic. They bring the government’s total to 30 members, 20 Ministers, and 10 Deputy Ministers.

Togo's KYA-Energy Group, a renewable energy company, was honored with the Regional Integration Prize at the 5th edition of the OAPI Brand Awards in Libreville last week. The distinction recognizes the company's role in promoting sustainable energy solutions and its subregional expansion.

Led by Professor Yao Azoumah, KYA-Energy Group impressed the jury with its flagship brand, KYA-SOP, a line of locally designed and assembled solar-electric generator systems. The KYA-SOP product had previously received recognition from the West African Development Bank (BOAD) in 2018.

According to the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), the jury praised the company's expansion strategy across several West African nations, along with its positive impact on energy security and the creation of green jobs.

The award comes with a financial prize of 3 million XOF. Beyond the monetary value, Professor Azoumah emphasized the symbolic importance, stating the award "confirms the quality of Togolese innovation and the relevance of our vision for an energy-autonomous Africa."

The OAPI Brand Awards recognize the best initiatives in intellectual property and innovation. During the event, the Togolese Employers’ Union, represented by Laurent Tamegnon, was also honored with a special award for its partnership in the initiative.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Coastal protection work on the Gbodjomé-Agbodrafo-Goumoukopé segment in Togo is scheduled to enter its active phase on October 20, 2025.

The project, valued at over 33 billion XOF(or 51 million euros), is part of the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP-Togo). Funding for this segment is provided by the French Development Agency (AFD), Invest International, and supported by the World Bank.

"Everything is ready for the effective start of the work, scheduled around October 20," Eusébio A. César, the WACA project’s Senior Coastal Civil Engineer, told Togo First.

The construction contract was awarded to the Dutch firm Boskalis International BV, which has previously worked on similar projects in Togo. The work will be overseen by the Inros Lackner/Antea consortium.

According to details shared by WACA ResIP, the construction will span 18 months, running from June 2025 to November 2026.

Specifically, the project involves building 22 protective groynes (20 between Gbodjomé and Agbodrafo and two at Goumoukopé). Each groyne will measure between 65 and 75 meters and will be reinforced by sand nourishment estimated at 35,000 cubic meters per compartment, totaling approximately 730,000 cubic meters of sand dredged from the high seas, 10 kilometers offshore.

"These structures will stabilize the coast and allow populations to live without the fear of being displaced by the sea," said Adou Rahimi Alimi Assimiou, WACA-Togo National Project Coordinator.

The operation also includes backfilling 450,000 cubic meters of sand into the dead lagoon channels of Aného, and replanting 10 hectares of coconut trees to stabilize the coastline and limit marine encroachment.

Beyond the infrastructure work, the project emphasizes its social dimension. Before the launch, 296 affected individuals were compensated. The project is also generating local employment: "The project has already created 112 jobs, 89 of which are local labor," said Loukman Nadjari, the project's social safeguard specialist. Local residents have been briefed on temporary disruptions related to traffic and noise pollution. The stated goal for the duration of the work is to ensure zero accidents, zero incidents.

Project engineers anticipate the coastal structures will provide long-term stability for at least 30 years, curbing erosion and protecting homes, hotels, and infrastructure currently under threat. The successful completion of this phase is expected to eventually pave the way for an extension of the protection scheme towards Kpémé and Aného, areas where the sea continues to advance.

Previous WACA project work in Togo, also executed by Boskalis BV, included the construction and rehabilitation of 14 groynes along the Agbodrafo-Sanvee Condji section, the installation of a breakwater, compartment nourishment, and the development of the Gbaga channel in Aného.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi