Togo officially starts preparing for the 9th Pan-African Congress

Politics

Tuesday, 23 May 2023 18:26

Togo officially starts preparing for the 9th Pan-African Congress

(Togo First) - Preparations for the 9th Pan-African Congress which Lomé is set to host next year officially began on May 22. The launch ceremony was attended by several officials from Togo and the foreign affairs ministers of South Africa and DR Congo. Togolese PM, Victoire Tomegah Dogbé presided over the ceremony.

la cemac appelle le tchad a ceder une partie de ses actions dans cotco au cameroun L

The Congress should take place between October and December 2024. Organized by Togo and the African Union (AU), it will focus on the following theme: "Renewing Pan-Africanism and Africa's Role in the Reform of Multilateral Institutions: Mobilizing Resources and Reinventing Ourselves for Action."

The 9th Panafricain congress Lomé 2024 has been opened today by HE Mrs Victoire Tomegah-Dogbé, Prémier Minister of Togolese Republique. #PanAfrican #9thPanAfricaincongres #Lomé2024 #Africanophone #Africanophony #APA @DIRCO_ZA @DIRCO_ZA @_AfricanUnion #PanAfricanism pic.twitter.com/dPH9q6mXPa
— Robert Dussey (@rdussey) May 22, 2023

For Togo, holding the event is a challenge. Robert Dussey, the Togolese minister of foreign affairs said in this regard: "We want this congress to be a congress of action. We want this congress to result in a declaration and for this declaration to impact key issues, including identity issues, issues of the role that Africa must play, the issue of business, and the contribution of our Afro-descendant brothers on the African continent. We hope that this congress can give us perspectives of the actions that will be carried out."

Togo’s concern seems valid considering that during the previous edition, South Africa, which hosted the event, refused to allow some northern African representatives to participate.

The exact date of the next edition has not been decided yet but the Ministry of foreign affairs of Togo assured that it would happen in 2024. The first edition of the Pan-African Congress dates back to 1919.

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.