Togo will hold its next regional and legislative elections on April 13, 2024. The government set the date during its latest Council of Ministers, on February 8. 

According to the Council’s report, the electoral campaign should begin on March 28 and end on April 11. Members of the national security forces will vote on April 10, according to the same source. 

For the coming elections, candidates running for a deputy seat must deposit CFA500,000, and those running in the regional elections must deposit CFA200,000. Those running in both elections pay half of these amounts, in line with Article 225 of the electoral code.

The government has set up a special task force to make sure the elections are smooth. Known as the FOLSER, it regroups members of the gendarmerie, the police, and the operational reserve. 

For these elections, the electoral code was updated, pushing up the number of deputies who would be elected from 91 to 113. In total, 4.2 million people should vote, according to data from the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI).

Esaïe Edoh

The Togolese government will set up a security task force to ensure that the coming regional and legislative elections are smooth. The Council of Ministers adopted the decree establishing this task force, known as the FOLSER, on February 8. 

The FOLSER regroups members of the National Police, the National Gendarmerie, and the Operational Reserve. They will be deployed across the country during and after the elections. 

Under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and the operational command of the Ministry of Security, this force will be organized on a decentralized basis, taking into account the security forces' territorial coverage plan. The government, however, noted that its structure can be amended if needed.

Togo recorded a fish output of 24,229 t in 2023. This is 30% more than in 2020 –18,658 t. The figure was disclosed by the Ministry of Fishing and Maritime Economy.

Last year, 15,700 t of fish were caught using artisanal means, against 11,711 t in 2020 (+34%), and 128 t through maritime trawling (against 85 t in 2020).

Meanwhile, inland fishing production rose from 6,132 tonnes to 6,734 in 2023 over the period reviewed. Similarly, fish farming produced 1,568 t in 2023, compared to 730 t in  2020.

The government, through several actions and projects, contributed to the improvements. For example, they set up a new fishing port in Lomé and launched, in 2022, the Aquaculture Development Project (PDAT). 

The government also increased its budget for fishing and aquaculture, from CFA1.1 billion in 2023 to CFA2 billion in 2024.

Fishing contributes nearly 4.5% of Togo’s GDP, according to the Ministry of Economy’s latest data. The sector employs over 2,000 people. 

Esaïe Edoh 

Togo received a new rice shipment from Japan yesterday, February 7th. The shipment, a donation, was received by the Ministry of Agriculture. Worth 250 million Yen (about CFA1.2 billion), it is part of the "Kennedy Round " (KR) food aid program.

The Japanese rice will help bridge Togo’s structural deficit and make the staple available on the local market at a cheap price, thereby improving food and nutritional security in the West African country. The money obtained from the sales will be invested in socio-economic development projects.

According to Dindiogue Konlani, Director of Cabinet at the Ministry of Agriculture, revenues from previous sales of donated rice were used to set up planned agricultural development zones (ZAAP) and to repair roads in rural parts of the country. Part of the money also served to buy agricultural equipment to boost operations at existing ZAAPs.

According to the Togolese authorities, since 2008, Togo has received from Japan a total of 114,692 t of grains, including 81,849 t of wheat and 32,843 t of white rice. This amounts to almost 5 billion Yen, or around CFA24.5 billion.

Esaïe Edoh

Nunya Lab, the State-owned incubator, just launched a program to support local young entrepreneurs and MSMEs in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Only entrepreneurs and SMEs with an innovative service or product can enroll in the program. 

The program will help the incubated validate their product or service, tackle marketing issues, be more competitive, and expand at the global level. 

In the program's framework, Nunya Lab encourages the development of MVPs (Minimum Viable Products), simplified versions of products or services that enable their concept, core functionality, and appeal to potential users to be tested quickly.

The deadline for applying to the program is February 13, 2024.

Togo and 11 other African countries just launched, on February 6, a program to foster volunteering across the continent. The program, known as the Development of National Volunteer Ecosystems in Africa (DENVA) was launched in Lomé, Togo. 

The Togolese Volunteer Agency, ANVT, and France Volontaires designed the program. Besides facilitating volunteer movement across the 12 partner States, the program will help the volunteers acquire professional experience and contribute to projects that align with the 2030 sustainable development objectives, and in coherence with Agenda 2063.

The launch of this program is a step forward in the promotion of inter-country mobility for African national volunteers, according to ANVT.

"With the launch of the DENVA Program, we are taking another step forward in our commitment to sustainable development and international cooperation," said Omar Agbangba, Managing Director of ANVT.

“Ultimately, the DENVA aims to give rise to a world of mobility, north-south, south-north, south-south, that relies on shared values, compatible frames of reference and fosters dialogue between young people through cross-mobilities,” said Yann Delaunay, Managing Director of France Volontaires.

The DENVA will run for 24 months, focusing on the following areas: support for the deployment of new volunteers, professionalization of the commitment professions, strengthening cooperation between the countries concerned, and advocacy for greater recognition of the partnership.

The countries involved in the initiative are Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Republic of Congo, Senegal and Togo.

Esaïe Edoh

CAMEG Togo, the country’s body for generic drug purchases, will receive CFA1.5 billion from the government. The move, which aligns with Lomé’s Universal Healthcare project (AMU in French) was disclosed by the Minister of Health, Prof. Moustafa Mijiyawa.

The official claimed the additional financing would “broaden the CAMEG’s capacity to secure drugs.” He issued the statement last month, on a nationwide awareness tour on the Universal Healthcare project. 

Investing in generic drugs aims to make it easier for people nationwide to get affordable but quality medicine.

For the CAMEG, this decision means it will play a major role in the AMU project. Also, the government has been discussing with other stakeholders to ensure the project’s success. These stakeholders include the National Institute for Health Insurance (INAM), the National Fund for Social Security (CNSS), insurance companies, medical agents, and more. 

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo should spend CFA19 billion on local environmental protection projects this year. The figure, a provisional budget, was set under the 2024 finance bill. 

Top officials from the Ministry of Environment held a meeting last week in Aneho (30 km East of the capital, Lomé) to discuss the budget and its management. 

Participants reviewed the Ministry’s goals for the year and drew strategies to achieve them, in line with the government’s new Public Investment Program (PIP). 

Among others, they committed to better communicating their actions, and to setting up a digital database to track existing projects. They also announced they would conduct feasibilities before launching any project.

Last but not least, the ministry will proceed to a mid-progress assessment of projects during the year.

Esaïe Edoh

The Soccer Federation of Togo (Fédération Togolaise de Football, FTF) approved its budget for 2024 on February 2024. The budget amounts to CFA3.6 billion. 

It is 12% more than the 2023 budget and 22% more than the 2022 budget. The past two budgets stood at CFA3.2 billion and CFA2.7 billion, respectively.

According to the Federation’s executive committee, the 2024 budget will help build sports infrastructure, such as stadiums in big towns.

Part of the money will also serve to organize competitions, such as national championships, youth competitions, and Beach soccer competitions.  

The FTF also plans to invest in the training of Togo’s future football players and other stakeholders.

Esaïe Edoh