Ibrahima Mémounatou, a recently re-elected member of the Togolese National Assembly, has been appointed as the new head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament. The appointment took place during a session in Kano, Nigeria on Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Following the tradition of rotating presidency, Mémounatou assumes the leadership role, succeeding Sierra Leone's Sidie Mohammed Tunis. Previously serving as the third Vice-President of the outgoing bureau, Mémounatou is expected to work closely with other ECOWAS bodies to address various socio-political challenges in member states.

"Our responsibilities are weighty, and we must be aware of them and remain faithful to our commitments. We need to work together with intelligence, rigor, and determination," she stated.

During this 6th legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mémounatou will collaborate with two other Togolese deputies, Senou Soklingbe and Patrick Kodjovi Senam Bolouvi, both members of the Union for the Republic (UNIR) party.

The ECOWAS Parliament, established in July 1993 with its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, consists of one hundred and twenty (120) seats. Each of the sixteen (16) member states has a minimum of five (05) seats, with the remaining forty (40) seats allocated based on the population of each country.

Esaïe Edoh

Lomé will host the 23rd International Pharmaceutical Forum (IPF) from July 3 to 6, 2024. Between 1000 to 1500 participants from Africa, Asia, Europe, and America are expected. The theme is "Access to Healthcare: Challenges, Issues, and Perspectives for the Pharmaceutical Sector".

The forum aims to improve healthcare services and ensure affordable medicines for all. Its main goal is to help participants, especially African pharmacists, provide quality healthcare services, as well as safe, effective, and affordable drugs. 

The forum will include presentations, discussions, and exhibitions to share experiences and recommendations for better healthcare systems. This gathering is crucial as 30% of the world’s population lacks essential healthcare services.

In Togo, discussions will focus on achieving Universal Health Coverage, securing necessary funds, and ensuring access to quality, affordable medicines. 

Dr. Sandouidi Alfred, the IPF's Permanent Secretary, is optimistic that the forum will lead to valuable recommendations for improving healthcare access globally. "The ultimate goal of the IPF is to formulate major recommendations so that each country can share its experience in achieving universal access to healthcare in Lomé. I am confident that we will emerge from this forum with strong recommendations that each country will implement so that our populations can benefit from the best healthcare," he said.

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Togo’s Public-Private Sector Consultation Committee (CCESP) has launched a satisfaction survey of the private sector's interactions with public administration. Led by the Minister of Commerce's chief of staff, Koffi Vinyo Mensah, the survey gathers feedback from local and foreign economic players on ongoing pro-business reforms.

The survey is carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED). According to the CCESP's executive secretary, it is key for enhancing businesses’ experience with public administrations. This aligns with the government's dialogue to boost cooperation between the private and public sectors, via the CCESP.

A sample of 2,500 companies will partake in the survey. The Association of Large Enterprises of Togo (AGET) noted that the survey must be carried out with integrity and impartiality, addressing critical aspects of the business ecosystem, including competitiveness.

Established in 2017, the CCESP works to cultivate trust between the State and the private sector, underscoring the ongoing commitment to fostering an environment that promotes economic growth and collaboration.

Togolese telecom firm Togocom and lender Orabank have teamed up to launch PASS TMONEY, a new mobile banking service, on May 23. The service enables offline money transfers between Togocom's TMoney mobile money platform and Orabank, in both directions.

PASS TMONEY also allows TMoney and Orabank users to check their balances and mini-statements via mobile.

The service is accessible through USSD code 145612#.

Orabank Togo CEO Guy Awona hailed PASS TMONEY as a major stride in Togo's financial inclusion efforts. Togocom CEO Pierre Antoine Legagneur echoed this sentiment, stating, "The alliance between banks and telcos in mobile money is key for financial inclusion."

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The number of people with high blood pressure is rising in Togo. From 2011 to 2021, the official proportion of people suffering from the condition rose from 19.7% to over 27%. The figure was disclosed on May 17, the World Hypertension Day.

"In 2021, Togo conducted its second survey involving populations aged 15 to 64. It turned out that hypertension is present in 27% of cases, affecting a quarter of the Togolese population," said Professor Mofou Belo, Professor of Neurology and Head of Non-Communicable Disease Surveillance at Togo’s Ministry of Health. "This is serious because it's a value that has evolved. In 2011, the same survey was conducted and hypertension was a concern in 19.7% of cases."

In Togo, over 80% of stroke victims are hypertensive, and about 6000 stroke cases are recorded annually. "This is a tragedy because it affects people of middle age between 45 and 50 years old most often. We also see young people falling victim to stroke," Prof. Belo said.

He then urged young people to get checked up once a year, at least, and old people once or twice weekly, "even if you are not hypertensive."

While lifestyles and consumption habits are implicated in the rise of hypertension cases, especially excessive consumption of salty foods, processed foods, alcohol, and tobacco, it is recommended to exercise and eat healthily.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo’s power utility, the CEET, has implemented a daily power supply rationing plan, as households, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and industries in the country face unexpected interruptions.

The utility detailed its plan last week, stressing that it goes from May 19 to May 26, 2024. The rationing plan, the CEET explained, is in response to the persistent difficulties faced by Togo and the West African sub-region since the beginning of May, following a gradual return to normalcy observed at the end of the first quarter.

Regarding power distribution, Togo is divided into three main zones, each further subdivided into sectors or clusters of neighborhoods. Households and SMEs are distributed across the first two zones, while the third is exclusively reserved for industries.

The CEET indicated that power outages could be implemented in certain sectors based on the deficit observed during the day, according to specified time slots outlined in a table provided for this purpose.

Besides the rationing, the utility issued safety instructions to raise awareness among the population about potential disruptions.

"We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Rest assured that all measures will be taken to restore normal electricity supply as soon as possible, and we thank you for your understanding," CEET concluded.

Yango, the taxi-hailing mobile app, will soon be available in Lomé, Togo. The app should roll out by mid-June. Drivers are signing up at the moment.

Yango allows users to book rides online. In Lomé, it will compete, among others, with Gozem, active in the Togolese capital since 2008, and BKG SPEED, which came in more recently.

The newcomer’s arrival is highly anticipated according to observers. They believe it could dynamize the local urban transportation market, bringing advanced tech solutions and enhancing user experience. 

Yango is already present Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Cameroon. 

Observers claim that its profit dynamics in Togo could differ from those in Ivory Coast. In the former, VTCs compete against taxi-bikes or "zémidjans". 

Also, unlike Gozem, Yango intends to focus solely on cars, leveraging the rapidly increasing smartphone and internet penetration rate.

Yango is a subsidiary of the Russian tech giant Yandex.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

Bank Of Africa of Togo (BOA-Togo sealed, last week, a major financing deal with the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs and Businesswomen of Togo (FEFA-Togo). Under the deal, signed on May 17, the lender will back the women’s activities with CFA1 billion over 12 months.

The document was signed in Lomé, by Youssef Ibrahimi, CEO of BOA-Togo, and Candide Bamezon-Leguede, president of FEFA-Togo.

"This partnership is the beginning of a significant collaboration between two major players in the Togolese economy. By joining forces, we aim to stimulate Togo's economic and social development," Ibrahimi said.

For the FEFA’s boss, the partnership is an opportunity to offer flexible financing tailored to the specific needs of businesswomen in the country. "This initiative is a first in the region and aims to create real and sustainable opportunities for women," she noted.

The financing program revolves around three strategic axes. First, pre-financing support to overcome the bureaucratic obstacles often encountered by entrepreneurs. Then, assistance in assembling documents. Finally, post-financing support to ensure that funds are used effectively to maximize impact on the ground. The program also includes entrepreneurship training, covering financial education and business management, enhanced by coaching and peer mentoring.

"Together, we can break barriers, eliminate inequalities, and create a world where all women have the opportunity to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams," Bamezon-Leguede stressed.