Kamala Harris announces $100M support to help Togo and three other West African countries fight insecurity

Security

Wednesday, 29 March 2023 14:03

Kamala Harris announces $100M support to help Togo and three other West African countries fight insecurity

(Togo First) - Kamala Harris, the U.S. vice president, recently announced a $100 million financing for Togo and four other West African countries, to help them fight insecurity. The American official unveiled the assistance in Accra, last Monday, March 27, at a press conference with Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo. Benin, Ghana, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, are the four other nations that will benefit from the facility.

“Today, I am pleased to announce $100 million in support for Ghana, Benin, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo to support conflict prevention and stabilization efforts in Coastal West Africa,” said Harris.

African nations, including Ghana, play a critical role in global security.

Today, I am pleased to announce $100 million in support for Ghana, Benin, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo to support conflict prevention and stabilization efforts in Coastal West Africa. pic.twitter.com/oYXk6RRvEZ
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) March 28, 2023

Joe Biden’s vice president also said her country was committed to helping the five African countries rebuild their economy post-Covid-19 and deal with the security crises they face.

The recent support comes at a time when Washington has been getting closer to the African continent, and when Russia and China have been expanding their presence on the continent, respectively in the security and trade sectors. According to some U.S. observers, the two giants threaten Washington’s interests in Africa.

Ghana is the first of three African countries that Kamala Harris is visiting as part of a weeklong official tour that aims to strengthen diplomatic ties between Africa and the U.S. A few months before Harris’ trip, in December, Joe Biden had met with African leaders during the U.S-Africa Leaders summit. President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo was among the leaders in attendance.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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.