Nana Nanfamé is the new Chairman of the Board of Directors for the New Cotton Company of Togo (NSCT). The state company officially disclosed the news in a press release issued on December 13, 2024. 

Nanfamé replaces the late Simféitchéou Pré. The new board chairman had led the company from 2016 to 2020 before Olam Group took over. His extensive knowledge and experience are expected to help consolidate the company's progress and help it grow sustainably.

However, Nana Nanfamé will also face significant challenges. Notably, he must tackle the output decline recorded over the past years. This is as output is forecast to drop to 66,000 tonnes in the next season, from 67,000 tonnes this year.

Nanfamé's leadership will be crucial in turning the tables and achieving sustainable growth. His appointment shows the company's commitment to using experienced leaders to handle the complexities of Togo's cotton industry.

Esaïe Edoh

Nei Futuro Bitencourt, the Brazilian ambassador to Togo since 2021, passed on December 13, 2024, in Lomé. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the news.

Throughout his career, Nei Bitencourt served in various prestigious diplomatic posts, including embassies in  Tokyo, London, Washington, Maputo, and the consulate-general in Nagoya. He was acknowledged for his consistent efforts to bring Brazil closer to sub-Saharan African countries.

During his tenure in Togo, Ambassador Bitencourt was instrumental in fostering cooperation in key sectors such as agriculture, military training, and culture. He ensured the continuation of food security projects and helped transfer Brazilian expertise to the region.

Gilbert Bawara, the Togolese Minister of Labor and Social Protection, is the new head of the Council of Ministers of the Inter-African Conference on Social Security (CIPRES). He was formally appointed on December 13, at the end of the 37th council meeting in Lomé.

Bawara served as the Chairman of the CIPRES Council of Ministers for the first time in 2023. This year, however, he was replaced by Bassolma Bazié, Burkina Faso's Minister of Labor, and Social Protection.

During his term, Gilbert Bawara will play a critical role in strengthening social protection in the 17 CIPRES member States. He will focus on securing financial resources to guarantee the sustainability of social protection systems and on harmonizing the legislative and regulatory frameworks that oversee social welfare organizations and schemes. This initiative seeks to ensure coherence among the national policies of member countries, making it easier to implement shared mechanisms for the effective management of social funds.

The CIPRES was established on September 21, 1993, in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Headquartered in Lomé, Togo, the Council aims to establish rigorous and harmonized management of social welfare systems in member states. The CIPRES also conducts in-depth studies and proposes a unified legislative and regulatory framework among its members.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo launched the first National Quality Days (JNQ)  on December 13, 2024. Organized by the High Authority for Quality and the Environment (HAUQE), it was themed: “Quality, a lever for growth in national production.”

The two-day event included conferences, panels, and workshops on key topics such as metrology, certification, and the importance of standards for international markets.

In his opening speech, HAUQE President, Laré Arzouma Botre, noted: “In an increasingly competitive business environment, quality is not an option but a strategic necessity.”

Enselme Gouthon, Secretary General of the Coordination Committee for the Coffee and Cocoa Sectors (CCFCC), highlighted the achievements of Togolese cocoa at the international level. For example, he mentioned that six Togolese producers won medals at the Cocoa of Excellence Awards 2023.

The JNQ aimed to promote a quality culture in Togolese companies and public bodies.

The inaugural meeting of the Regional Program for the Integration of Agricultural Markets (PRIMA) concluded on December 12, 2024, in Grand-Popo, Benin. This event, organized by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Togo and Benin (CCI-Togo and CCI-Benin), is a significant step forward in fostering agricultural entrepreneurship between the neighboring countries.

The three-day meeting focused on the theme: “Agricultural entrepreneurship in the Benin and Togo corridors: Current situation, issues, challenges, and prospects.” Participants assessed the current landscape of agricultural entrepreneurship in both nations while identifying strategies to create a sustainable and inclusive environment for family farming, particularly focusing on cross-border agricultural trade. Agriculture remains a crucial sector for both Benin and Togo's economies.

During the meeting, both Chambers reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate in enhancing their roles within the agricultural markets of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as part of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The initiative will receive support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which is set to provide technical and financial assistance for achieving the program's objectives.

Françoise Assogba, Secretary General of Benin's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, stated that this project marks a pivotal advancement in integrating agricultural markets between Togo and Benin. She emphasized that the Beninese government is determined to actively contribute to a sustainable agricultural future by leveraging the synergies fostered through this bilateral cooperation.

This initial meeting signifies the beginning of ongoing exchanges between the two Chambers, which share a unified vision for agricultural development. “These initiatives aim to strengthen market interconnections, enhance living conditions for small-scale farmers, and stimulate economic growth in both countries, all within a framework of regional solidarity,” asserted representatives from both chambers.

Esaïe Edoh

The Togolese government has officially recognized 79 private higher education institutions. A list recently published by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research indicates that 68 of the schools are located in Greater Lomé. The remaining 11 are in the interior regions of the country.

The recognized schools comply with the government’s standards, undergo regular inspections, and adhere to regulations enacted by the Council of Ministers on October 30, 2024. These regulations mandate that training programs align with job market needs and comply with standards set by the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES).

The list was released to help students who seek to enroll in schools with adequate academic and international standards and avoid non-accredited schools. The government also hopes that the move will drive unrecognized institutions to meet official requirements, thus contributing to greater quality of higher education in Togo.

Kanka-Malik Natchaba, the Minister for Higher Education, stated that this initiative is crucial for restoring the credibility of Togolese diplomas and ensuring quality training for students. This move comes amid ongoing criticism of the private higher education sector for issues such as insufficient academic rigor and inadequate teaching staff at some institutions.

Togo has two public universities, for now. However, the government plans to establish a university per economic region to accommodate the rising demand for higher education and unclog existing institutions.

Esaïe Edoh

In Togo, eight new trade inspectors dedicated to consumer protection were sworn in on December 13, 2024, at the Lomé court. The chosen eight include five inspectors and three controllers. The inspectors are: Atekpe Makiliwè, Oganto Kokou Ananzè, Gadagbui Kossi Zikpi, Laméga Matiba Alliance, and Katcha Hèzouwè. The controllers are: Souka Atsou, Takassi Gnon Moumouni, and Atcha Yaliou.

The newly appointed officials pledged before the judge to ensure the quality and compliance of products sold within the national territory. “We have a consumer protection function. This involves checks in the field, the withdrawal of counterfeit or unfit-for-consumption products, the recording of offenses and their sanction,” explained Atekpe Makiliwè, Director of Internal Trade and Competition at the Ministry of Commerce.

The swearing-in ceremony concluded a process that included specialized training and a ministerial appointment order under legal requirements. The new inspectors are expected to enhance the capacities of the Ministry of Commerce, particularly in monitoring trade practices.

The day before the ceremony, Minister of Commerce Rose Kayi Mivedor had met with key importers of staple products such as rice and oil to ensure their availability at affordable prices during the festive season when consumption typically rises.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo’s new decentralization strategy, spanning 2024 to 2034, was validated last week in Kara. Held on December 12, the validation workshop gathered key stakeholders in decentralization, including governors, prefects, mayors, general secretaries of prefectures and communes, and representatives of traditional chieftaincies. 

The new strategy, featuring major reforms, aims to revitalize the decentralization process. It is the fruit of a thorough assessment of the decentralization efforts initiated in 2016. This assessment provided a comprehensive overview of current progress, challenges, and opportunities to enhance decentralization by 2034.

The new strategy prioritizes several key areas, such as reinforcing local governance, improving the funding and autonomy of local authorities, effectively transferring powers from the State, and promoting citizen participation in local affairs. 

According to Pali Essossinam, Director of Decentralisation and Local Authorities, decentralization is a dynamic process that requires constant attention and adaptability to effectively meet citizens' expectations. 

The National Decentralisation Strategy should offer a strategic framework that enhances local actors’ capacities and fosters balanced territorial development.

Several partners will support the actions planned under the new strategy–technically and financially. For example, the German Cooperation (GIZ) backs the strategy through the Decentralisation and Good Governance Programme (ProDeG IV). 

The national decentralization strategy has been validated as Togo prepares to conclude the first term for elected municipal representatives in 2025.

Esaïe Edoh