(Togo First) - Since the last local elections held in June 2019, Togo has been actively engaged in its decentralization process. And while Lomé’s efforts resulted in greater involvement of citizens, many of whom are now ready to take part in their municipalities’ activities and strongly adhere to the principles of good governance, some bridges still need to be built between local elected officials and populations. This is the conclusion of an Afrobarometer survey on decentralization and control of public action published in December 2021. The study was based on a sample population of 1,200 adult citizens interviewed between December 2020 and January 2021.

To participate or not in municipal activities, that is the question

According to the study, three-quarters of Togolese (74%) say they are somewhat willing to participate in municipality-related activities, and more than half (58%) of the sample pool have done so at least once in the past 12 months. 

As for actually participating in community meetings, about six in 10 Togolese (58%) say they have done so at least once in the past 12 months, including 23% who claim to have taken part in the meetings "often", 26% said they did "a few times" and only 8% attended "once or twice”. In comparison, only 6% said they would never participate in a community meeting.

Based on the study’s results, people in rural areas are as involved in community meetings as those living in cities. The same evidence stands between the less and more educated people, as well as for people living in the north and south.

Kara stands as an example regarding municipal involvement

Nationwide, across all 117 municipalities of the country, "rural residents (79%), the less educated (78%) and the people of the Kara region (88%) are more willing to perform this civic act - men (77%) and women (73%) support it", the study reveals.

In contrast to Kara, interest is lower in the Maritime region, especially in the capital Lomé. Indeed, "the lack of initiative to discuss matters concerning the management of the municipality is much more accentuated in Lomé (55%) and the Maritime region (57%), in urban areas (53%), among women (52%) and the less affluent (51%)," the report points out, although few reasons were advanced to explain these differences.

Little interaction between local elected officials and populations

At the same time, while the Togolese say they are interested in the activities of their municipalities, there is still a gap between the population and local elected officials. "An overwhelming majority (81%) of Togolese say they have never reached out to a local elected official in the last 12 months," the pan-African pollster points out. 

Moreover, "the same proportion believes that local leaders "never" listen (52%) or listen "only a few times" (31%) to what ordinary citizens have to say."

In this regard, Afrobarometer suggests "strengthening initiatives at both the central and local levels" to "increase awareness about good governance principles and participation mechanisms" to get people more involved.

The Togolese value good governance (above all)

The survey also shows that citizens are overwhelmingly attached to the principles of good governance. Thus, three-quarters (74%) of respondents are in favor of the accountability of the President of the Republic to the National Assembly and affirm that the Head of State must always obey the laws and court decisions...even if he thinks they are wrong (77% believe that). A large majority (85%) believe that any government, no matter how popular, must always abide by the law. 

In the same vein, more than half (56%)  of the population believe that the President of the Republic "never" or "rarely" ignores parliament and the laws of the land (53%), according to Afrobarometer.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi