Togo First
Togo: Power utility CEET now allows medium-voltage customers to pay connection fees in instalments
It will be easier now for Togolese people to get connected to the national power grid. Indeed, Togo’s power utility, Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo (CEET), has enabled payment in tranches (over six months) for connection fees while this amount was expected to be paid fully initially.
The move is part of a set of technical and commercial reforms engaged by CEET to improve populations’ access to power services as well business climate in the country. In this framework, the utility has also reduced connection delay for new medium-voltage customers, from 66 days to 28 days. However, this period can extend to 42 days if a transformer substation needs to be built.
Also, connection fees were slashed by 30% in order to provide quality services and satisfy medium-voltage customers.
Togo: State reinforces measures to fight corruption
One of the missions assigned to the Higher Authority for Prevention and Fighting against Corruption and Related Offenses (HAPLUCIA) by the government is reinforcement of measures aiming to fight corruption and foster good governance.
In its framework, a meeting was held last Thursday at HAPLUCIA’s headquarters in Lomé. The meeting’s objective was to study the field in order to coordinate monitoring entities and actors involved in the fight against corruption and good governance’s promotion, in Togo.
Administrations, public institutions, private companies and even NGos are targeted by this hunt for the corrupted and corruptors.
To carry out its mission, HAPLUCIA, under the Amended Finance Act adopted in Nov. 2017, was provided CFA300 million by the government.
Togo: Boost in external trade resulting from single desk establishment
Opened in 2015 to boost cross-border trade, the external trade single desk is meeting expectations.
Indeed, the desk whose purpose was to simplify clearance processes, ease goods transportation, reduce related costs and delays and improve transparency in the sector, has helped Togo improve its logistics performances.
According to the World Bank’s 2016 index on logistic performance, Togo has jumped 47 positions to the 92nd rank worldwide. On the Doing Business’ crossborder trade index, the country also won ten places, in 2017.
Besides these improvements, Togolese customs’ revenues soared by 19.45% in 2015, due to the single desk initiative which aims to boost trade between Togo and other countries.
In 2015-2017, delay for container handling was reduced from 13 to 7 days. All these are to be attributed to the digitalization of processes and payment at a single desk.
Yet, there is still room for more improvement. In fact, a major step ahead consists in the deployment of GUCE in oil and export-oriented air freight sectors but also at Ségbé-Noépé border posts.
GUCE, let’s recall is an online platform connecting all actors involved in external trade. It is managed by the Société d’Exploitation du Guichet unique du commerce extérieur (Seguce).
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo: Land officials say Doing Business’ data on ownership transfer delays are outdated
According to Abby, Toyi, head of State domains and cadaster affairs (DADC), delays for complete transfer of land titles under Doing Business (283 days namely) is far from realities.
“I shout high my disapproval as the first person in charge”, the official said during a workshop on business climate at the administrative centre for economic and financial services.
“In 2016, we were at about 21 days. In 2017, despite all moving and issues we’ve met, we lowered it to 20 days”, he said. Considering the proximity of OTR where finalization of transfer mostly takes place, this delay should fall to 15 days, with the creation of the ownership transfer office.
In order to tackle this issue, the official has urged journalists and other parties involved, notaries namely, to crosscheck their information and verify their sources. “Relevant data is released on our website and sent to all affiliated notaries, he said. Many reforms are implemented at DADC, many elsewhere but all are available on the website,” he added.
DADC’s authorities promised to pursue reforms, such as that for land title dematerialization. Regarding the latter, as at February 20, 2018, from 95% at the end of December 2017, 97.2% of land titles had been digitalized.
According to officials, the team of about 20 youths hired for the operation should help complete the dematerialization process in some months.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo’s threshold program may soon be approved with a first disbursement of $35M from MCC
Togo’s Threshold Programme could be approved in the weeks to come now that political dialogue has been initiated. This was told Nana Akufo-Addo by acting chief executive of the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Jonathan Nash, as the Ghanaian president was in US for a work visit. The Ghanaian leader, let it be noted, was recently in Togo to act as chief mediator to find a solution to the political crisis that the country experiences.
The approval should allow for the disbursement of a $35 million facility. The first US investment under the Millenium Challenge Account, pending Togo’s adhesion to a larger scheme, the Compact. With the latter, the African country could receive up to $400 million.
“One of the things we were looking for was the launch of a dialogue. Because of your leadership, and what you have done on the ground, we are now prepared to take this investment to our Board of Directors in the coming weeks. Assuming that things continue to move in a positive direction, hopefully our board will approve it, and we can begin an investment to Togo”, Nash said.
Funds mobilized would help improve the Togolese people’s access to ICT services. In addition, they should foster formalization of land access by legitimizing customary rights and boosting inclusive land access, among others.
Back in December 2017, let’s recall, board of administration of MCC had said in a statement: “With regard to Togo, the Board is encouraged by the possibility of inclusive dialogue as a way to resolve the current political impasse, and will continue to monitor developments on the ground before making a decision about the proposed threshold program”.
CCA urges media to play their role in the implementation of reforms aiming to improve business environment
The training and information meeting between the Business Climate Cell (CCA) and media actors came to an end last Friday. It was themed “Business environment in Togo: Concepts, reforms and outlook”.
Talks at the meeting revolved around seven main topics namely transfer of ownership, business creation, access to power, access to loans, cross-border trade, construction permit and contracts execution.
Commenting on the event, CCA’s coordinator, Sandra Ablamba Johnson, said: “We are satisfied because a dynamic partnership was built between media actors and our departments in charge of reforms”. She added that media actors will produce news that will sensitize populations about the reforms, while making sure those are effectively implemented first. The goal is to establish task forces comprised of media actors focused on key topics, and in the long term, have expert journalists.
In response also, media actors have all approved CCA’s approach, saying they hope a more formal partnership will be put in place. Reassuring them, CCA’s coordinator said works are going on in this regard.
Subsequent to the workshop, CCA will organize a work session, by video conference, with World Bank, which is responsible for assessing the reforms. “We want to have an open discussion with the institution concerning some aspects that are important to us”, Johnson said, emphasizing that expert journalists will be invited to take part in the video conference.
Orange and Openclassroom team up to provide free e-courses in Togo and others
Orange Africa, the telecom operator, has entered into an agreement with the French online course platform Openclassroom to provide 3-18 months courses on digital professions, French magazine Jeune Afrique reported.
In effect, Orange Africa will help provide its courses to public employment services, such as ANPE in Togo. Others countries involved in the program are Tunisia, Morocco and Benin. However, talks are going on to add Niger, Senegal, Madagascar and more.
The project aims to allow both students and professionals to access certificate and degree based courses. Enrolled students must be at undergraduate and master’s levels, with certificates recognized in France.
Courses will be available online, via mobile especially.
Currently financed by Orange alone, the initiative will help African youth get more jobs as subscription fees for openclassroom’s courses which were too onerous for this group of individuals, have been cancelled.
As it plans to train thousands of people, with Openclassrom courses, Orange will establish various training centres which will collaborate with local universities and schools and the Agence universitaire pour la francophonie (AUF) also. “These centres will be meeting points where classes requiring students’ presence will be given”, said Thierry Coilhac, director of e-learning at Orange.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Spurred by PNIASA and PASA, poultry production soars significantly in 2011-2017
In Togo, as agriculture fares well, poultry is not left out it appears. Indeed, according to data released by Dr. Daniel Batawui, Head of Husbandry, poultry production recorded a major increase, from 8 million chickens, in 2011, to 25 million in 2017, thus tripling over the period.
The surge results from various efforts made in the sector, knowingly under the National Programme for Agricultural Investment and Food Security (PNIASA) and the Agricultural Sector Support Programme (PASA) implemented in 2012-2015.
In details, PNIASA impacted 13,000 actors in the poultry sector and PASA enabled vaccination of 90% of poultry (8 million in three campaigns) over the period reviewed, through the mobilization of 2,900 rural vaccinators and 25 private veterinarians.
The sector expects the recent growth to be sustained and authorities intend to make its actors into true professionals.
PNIASA, it should be highlighted, is expected to capture an investment of CFA1,250 billion in 2017-2026.
Togo to benefit from ECOWAS’ recently launched business incubation scheme
On Feb. 22, 2018, ECOWAS launched the first phase of its companies incubation programme by creating a first pilot centre in the framework of the agricultural entrepreneurship scheme, at Tenkodogo, Burkina Faso.
Developed by ECOWAS and NEPAD Spanish Fund for African Women Empowerment, the incubation programme aims to support women in rural areas, across West Africa.
It will, among others, help tackle many challenges encountered by women running small and medium-size businesses in the agricultural sector. To be extended to others countries of the region over the next six months, this programme is quite opportune for Togo which has launched on the same day it was started a programme for rural development in the Djagble plain (PDRD).
The incubator will indeed boost access of Togolese women to markets and financing.
Togo to benefit from a $3bn investment from Turkey through ECOWAS in the next 5 years
Togo will benefit from a $3 billion investment that Turkey will inject into the ECOWAS over the next five years. This was announced on the sidelines of the ECOWAS-Turkey economic forum taking place in Istanbul and ending today.
Turkey through its new commitment, according to website Horizon-news.net, wishes to create financial opportunities and foster technology transfer to boost investment in West Africa. Leading the Togolese delegation attending the forum is Germain Meba, President of Togo’s chamber of commerce and industry.
Togo should capture a significant portion of the facility, considering efforts made by the government to improve business climate in the country and make private sector a driver of growth and development.
Pending the project’s concretization, an economic cooperation agreement was signed between Togo and Turkey. It plans for programmes which will be developed in sectors like infrastructures, education, agriculture and energy. According to Germain Mèba, the agreement would draw more economic operators on international market.