Togo First
Djobo-Babakane Coulibaley Sworn in as Head of Togo's Constitutional Court
Djobo-Babakane Coulibaley officially took over as head of the Constitutional Court on Sunday, April 28, following his appointment by presidential decree. The handover, overseen by Minister of Human Rights Pacôme Adjourouvi, marks a significant step in the country's institutional continuity.
The seat was occupied by Kouami Amados-Djoko, who served as acting president after the passing of the previous official president, Abdou Assouma.
"As I assume my duties, I realize the obligations and responsibilities because, by nature, a constitutional court is involved in the process of distribution, exercise, and transmission of political power," said Coulibaley.
Djobo-Babakane Coulibaley took over the day before the regional and legislative elections. More than 4.2 million Togolese are voting in the polls.
With nine members appointed for a non-renewable six-year term, the Constitutional Court plays a crucial role in the electoral process. It ensures the regularity of voting operations, handling any electoral appeals, and definitively validating the results. These responsibilities are essential to ensure elected officials' legitimacy and procedures' conformity with the current legal framework.
Djobo-Babakane Coulibaley assumes his new role at the helm of the Constitutional Court amid high expectations, as the new constitution adopted by the deputies awaits promulgation by the Head of State.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo Closes Land Borders Amidst Regional and Legislative Polls
Togo’s land borders are closed today. The country holds its legislative and regional elections.
The Minister of Territorial Administration, Hodabalo Awaté, and Minister of Security and Civil Protection, Calixte Madjoulba announced the decision. The closure is to ensure security and a smooth electoral process.
In a joint statement, the officials urge border users and the public to cooperate for a peaceful election of deputies and regional councilors. The borders will reopen on April 30, starting from midnight.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Holds Regional and Legislative Elections Today
Togo holds today its regional and legislative elections. Over 4.2 million people are voting to appoint 113 deputies (out of 2,352 candidates) and 179 regional councilors.
The campaign took place from April 13 to 27. It was peaceful, despite various security concerns, in the North especially.
The government financially supported involved political parties with FCFA650 million, showing its commitment to a transparent and fair electoral process.
12,000 gendarmes and police officers have been mobilized as part of the 2024 Legislative and Regional Elections Security Force (FOSELR 2024). The country's land borders will also be closed until the elections this night end at 11:59 PM.
Observation missions from ECOWAS, the OIF, the African Union, and civil society actors, are on the ground to monitor the voting and counting process and ensure transparency.
Preliminary results of this historic election are expected to be announced during the week.
Cooperation: Togolese Top Officials meet with Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council
A meeting occurred on Wednesday, April 24, between the Togolese government and a delegation from the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), led by its Vice President. The primary aim was to explore cooperation opportunities between Togo and the Commonwealth.
Guided by Togolese Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah-Dogbe, the session facilitated idea exchange and strategy development, focusing on investment prospects in vital sectors like health, energy, tourism, sanitation, and digital. The potential organization of an investment forum in the future was also discussed.
"We received a delegation from the Commonwealth today. We discussed Togo's investment opportunities in health, energy, tourism, sanitation, and digital. And we also explored the possibility of holding an investment forum in the future with the Commonwealth," said Manuella Santos, Togo's Minister of Investment Promotion, on the sidelines of the discussions. "These exchanges were really satisfactory," she added.
Lord Swire, Vice President of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, echoed the sentiment, describing the initial meeting with the Togolese executive as productive.
The CWEIC, a non-profit organization endorsed by Commonwealth heads of government, is tasked with promoting trade and investment among the 56 member nations. With around 140 strategic partners from business and government sectors across 35 countries and territories, including major banks, the CWEIC network aims to facilitate economic collaboration within the Commonwealth.
Togo officially joined the Commonwealth, a group historically comprising former British colonies, in June 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo: Government Launches Energy Training Program Targeting 500 Young Men and Women
Togo's government seeks to train 500 young people and women in energy-related professions under the Tutudo program. Steered by the Ministry of Energy, the program focuses on public lighting and solar solutions. The total cost of the project is CFA2 billion.
Tutudo targets individuals aged 18 to 35, with priority given to women. The 6-month program includes one week of theory per month and three weeks of practical training, divided into 4 groups of 125 youths, with 85% being women.
According to the Minister of Energy, Mila Aziable, the initiative aims to enhance the employability of young people and women by imparting technological skills and fostering innovation in LED lighting. Registrations are open on a dedicated platform.
To enroll in the program, visit this platform.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo to Launch Malaria Chemoprevention Campaign in Plateaux Region in 2024
In 2024, Togo will launch a chemoprevention campaign against malaria in the Plateaux region, as part of the Ministry of Health's fight against the disease.
The news was disclosed today (World Malaria Day) by Dr. Obou Tina ATCHA, Coordinator of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP). "This year 2024, we will go down to the Plateaux region. We will visit every household," said ATCHA, in an interview with Radia Lomé.
The region was chosen after campaigns in the northern areas of the country. "The WHO recommended seasonal malaria chemoprevention. We started in the Savanes region, then moved down to the Centrale, then Kara," the executive explained. The campaign targets children aged 3 to 59 months. "We identify and systematically treat them, giving them a medicine that remains in their blood for a month to prevent malaria," he added.
It is worth noting that these annual chemoprevention campaigns were launched last year in July.
Togo recorded nearly 2.5 million cases of malaria in 2022. That year, one-third of the infected were children.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Lomé Meeting Tackles Airport Safety: ASECNA's Integrated Logistics Support Review and Training
Lomé is hosting a regional meeting on Integrated Logistics Support (SLI) operations. Led by the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), the meeting prioritizes airport safety, particularly rescue and firefighting. It began on April 22 and will end on April 26.
The meeting’s participants receive training on new intervention strategies. They also review manuals, intervention plans, and on-site training plans. Forty-five participants, mostly airport firefighters from various African states, are attending.
Sumsa Komla Amewokpo, representing ASECNA's Director-General, highlighted the importance of this meeting in equipping each country's teams with the necessary resources for successful mission completion.
"With airport firefighters' complex and varied missions, from firefighting to managing emergencies and rescue operations, providing our teams with resources, training, and support is crucial for mission success," he stated.
The meeting emphasizes the commitment to regional airport safety through expertise exchange, training, and collaboration among stakeholders. It is held under Togo's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) presidency.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo: University of Lomé Hosts Second Edition of Innovation Crunch Time
The University of Lomé hosts the second edition of Innovation Crunch Time, an event fostering technological innovation. The meeting is organized by Ecole Polytechnique de Lomé (EPL), in partnership with the University of Technology of Belfort Montbéliard.
Innovation Crunch Time bridges the gap between businesses and the EPL, enabling students to tackle real-world problems. This year, Innovation Crunch Time has gathered 122 students to address 17 challenges presented by local companies.
Professor Joseph Tsigbe, Director of Cooperation, lauded the initiative, underscoring its impact on upskilling tomorrow's engineers. "By expressing needs or proposing topics that require our students to use their minds to innovate, companies, local authorities, or partner associations contribute to the training of tomorrow's engineers," he said.
Meanwhile, EPL Director Professor Kondo Hloindo Adjallah urged students to showcase their creativity and technical skills. Crunch Time encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, immersing students in the professional world, and strengthening the partnership between the university and companies to meet job market demands. The event concludes on Friday, April 26, 2024.
The first edition of Crunch Time for technological innovation took place in March 2023, in collaboration with UTBM.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
ExpandPF Project Evaluates Healthcare Facilities in Togo for Reproductive Health Support
The ExpandPF project, backed by the Togolese Association for Family Welfare (ATBEF) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), has initiated an assessment of healthcare facilities in the Kloto, Haho, and Est-Mono districts of Togo. The project's goal is to support these facilities in reproductive health better.
A data collection mission recently took place from April 15th to 19th, visiting 40 intervention sites to evaluate service providers' capacities and the quality of long-term family planning services. Officially launched on March 26, 2024, by the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, the initiative “mainly aims to identify the genuine needs of healthcare facilities”.
“ExpandPF employs a social and behavioral change approach to bring family planning services closer to marginalized communities. Strategies include community-based distribution and contraception for adolescents and youth.”
The data collected will form the foundation of a comprehensive assessment report, complete with a targeted improvement plan.
Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with $49.5 million, the ExpandPF project aims to strengthen the quality of family planning and reproductive health services in Togo. Led by ATBEF for five years (2023-2028), this initiative is part of a broader regional vision.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
COOPEC-Blitta: Balance Sheet Totals CFA1.3 billion in 2023, up 12% YoY
Togo's Blitta Savings and Credit Cooperative (COOPEC-Blitta) has announced a balanced balance sheet for the 2023 fiscal year, totaling CFA1.329 billion, with a net surplus of 17.5 million, as reported by the Togolese Press Agency (ATOP). This represents a 12% increase in the total balance sheet, rising from 1.18 billion FCFA in 2022, and a 26% surge in financial surplus, up from 13.8 million FCFA in 2022.
The cooperative's top management assessed the balance sheet as "satisfactory" for the 2023 fiscal year. COOPEC-Blitta boasts 21,517 members and a deposit balance of 1.2 billion FCFA, having processed 1,637 credit applications amounting to 1.2 billion FCFA.
To further enhance its services, COOPEC-Blitta plans to improve the efficiency of the credit granting process and introduce digital services such as mobile banking for 24/7 accessibility. Labante Yao, the chairman of the board of directors, emphasized the importance of adhering to capitalization standards and encouraged borrowers in arrears to regularize their repayments.
COOPEC-Blitta is part of the FUCEC-TOGO network, a key player in microfinance in Togo, comprising a federation of cooperative savings and credit unions.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi