Togo: New ECOWAS Committee Launches to Bolster Healthcare Delivery

Health

Wednesday, 24 April 2024 11:40

Togo: New ECOWAS Committee Launches to Bolster Healthcare Delivery

(Togo First) - The Togolese branch of the ECOWAS Committee for the Management of Health Program Funds officially launched operations on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024. The inaugural meeting, held in Lome, outlined its mission and plans for the year.

This committee, mirrored across other ECOWAS member states, is primarily tasked with guiding, coordinating, and aiding in achieving the goals of projects and programs aimed at enhancing Togolese health indicators. Its actions are designed to reduce the risk of failure in projects undertaken by the West African Health Organization (WAHO) through monitoring, among other measures. The committee aims to boost the visibility of WAHO’s initiatives in Togo.

Committee President Baros Bacar Banjai highlighted the new inclusive policy, which involves targeted individuals in each ECOWAS member state. “This ensures monitoring in the execution of activities/projects and mandates the proper functioning of structures benefiting from grants, with the hope of good performance,” Banjai said. This approach is expected to not only enhance the funding of priority and urgent health programs but also bolster transparency in action execution.

WAHO, the ECOWAS entity dedicated to health issues, was established in 1987. Its main mission is to deliver the highest quality of healthcare to the sub-region’s populations by harmonizing member states’ policies, pooling resources, and fostering cooperation among member and non-member countries to collaboratively address the health problems of the sub-region.

Esaïe Edoh

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.