Togo Roundup: Kazakhstan ties, business climate, COVID-19 restrictions

Kazakhstan and Togo ties

Kazakhstan and Togo have signed three licensing agreements to support each other in developing their digital public infrastructure (DPI) projects. The agreements were signed in Togo and outlined collaboration in digital sectors such as platforms and big data. This partnership follows high-level visits between the two countries. Togo is currently building a national digital ID system with expertise from Atos and Idemia, reports Biometric Update.

Catholics push for traditional rites

The Catholic Church in Togo is evangelising traditional initiation rites among the Kabyè people. The local church seeks to help the Kabyè be authentically Christian while maintaining their cultural identity through the process of inculturation. The initiation rites, traditionally involving aspects incompatible with Christian beliefs, are being purified in the light of the Gospel to align with Christian teachings. The church offers alternative rites that incorporate Christian elements, such as dressing the young initiates and replacing traditional sanctuaries with Christian ones. According to La Croix International, the goal is for Christians to fully live their faith without compromising their culture.

Access to drinking water

As of 2023, the proportion of Togolese with access to potable water reached 69%, a significant increase from the 47.66% reported in 2014. This information was shared by the Togolese Ministry of Water on July 2, 2024. The ministry's data also highlighted that the availability of drinking water services in rural regions improved from 47.7% in 2014 to 74.4% in 2023. Meanwhile, in semi-urban and urban locales, the figures were 55.9% and 69% respectively for 2023, showing considerable growth from the 42.6% and 47.7% recorded in 2014, reports Togo First. The Ministry credits this improvement to a series of initiatives and programs initiated by the government, supported financially by its development allies. Notably, the PASSCO project, funded with CFA6.5 billion from the French Development Agency, contributed to the construction of 400 new wells in the northern part of Togo.

COVID-19 restrictions

Togo has joined the ranks as the second nation in West Africa to mandate COVID-19 testing and the use of face masks for travellers returning from the annual hajj in Mecca. Following Senegal's lead, the first in the region to implement voluntary testing amid concerns that respiratory issues like COVID-19 may have contributed to around 1,300 deaths as per Saudi data, Togo has taken a firmer stance. The government of Togo declared on Friday that returning hajj pilgrims must submit to compulsory COVID testing and adhere to preventive measures such as minimizing contact, wearing masks, frequent hand washing, and steering clear of large gatherings for 10 days post-return, reports News Central.

Soybean production

Last week marked the inauguration of Togo's soybean production drive for 2024-2025, held in Guérin-Kouka within the Dankpen prefecture. The event, orchestrated by the CIFS, the supervisory entity for the sector, centred on the theme "Mechanisation of soybean production, a factor in increased productivity." During the ceremony, Komlan Kadzakadè, the head of CIFS, reflected on lessons from past campaigns, asserting, "We are resolved to surmount past obstacles to further amplify our productivity." To realise this ambition, concerted efforts have been made to enhance the availability of superior seeds, fortify the technical acumen of producers, and expand the infrastructure for storage and processing, Togo First highlights. "The soybean sector is not only a significant source of foreign currency for our country but also plays a crucial role in our food security and industrialization," said Alex Kpanté Bouab, Director of Entrepreneurship and Agricultural Financing at the Ministry of Agriculture.