Togo: Togo Communication Profile

For years, media reports have been raising claims of mismanagement, overspending, nepotism, government's interference and other forms of wrongdoing at national-controlled Togo Telecom.

These challenges have made the embattled telco a laughing stock part the people of Togo, who are particularly critical of the company’s internet services.

Last week, the government said enough is enough and vowed to rebuild Togo Telecom from scratch to help it rise up again.

The regeneration package includes, part others, the upgrade of the network, providing better customer services, high speed internet at affordable rates, better management and tighter control of spending, according to post and digital economy minister Cina Lawson.

US-educated Lawson as well insisted on the necessity of rehabilitating the country’s telecom infrastructure.

Telecoms infrastructure is the fundamental basis of the digital economy, and Togo Telecom's regeneration remains crucial for Togo in its march towards the emerging process, she said.

However, some people remain sceptical about the new direction taken by the government to rescue Togo Telecom from the burning bushes.

“All these years, the government has been closing its eyes at the same time as the company was being mismanaged and providing mediocre services. What difference will it make this time?” a Lomé-based IT student said on condition of anonymity in a country lacking freedom of expression.

Togo Telecom is holding company of mobile operator Togo Cellulaire (TogoCel).

Togo Telecom sought to increase the number of telephone lines in the country from 21,500 in 1998 to 30,400 in 2000. Togo Telecom is a national born and managed telecommunications company in the West African country of Togo, with committed capital of 4 billion francs.

Reform of the press and communication law was part the commitments Togo’s government made in Brussels on 14 April 2004 with a view to resumption of co-operation between Togo and the European Union, broken off in 1993 because of democratic failings.

Communications Minister, Pitang Tchalla, on 28 April set up an 11-member reform commission drawn from journalists’ organisations and unions, the communications ministry, the Togolese media observatory and the broadcast and communications authority.

A second welcome feature of the new law is the repeal of all articles allowing the interior minister to takes steps by edict involving seizures or closure of newspapers, which gave rise to a lot of abuses in the completed.