Togo |
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The Togolese Republic is a small country in West Africa. The nation shares its border with Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, Burkina Faso to the north, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. Lomé is the capital of Togo. HISTORY:- The Voltaic and the Kwa peoples were believed to be the earliest inhabitants of Togo. They were followed by the Ewe people in the 14th century and the Ane in the 18th century. Denmark was the first European power to claim the land in the 18th century. But Germany was the first European power to colonize Togo in 1884 with the name of Togoland. Following the World War I, the territory of Togoland was divided between Britain and France under the League of Nations mandates. The region gained United Nations trusteeships later. The British-occupied Togoland became a part of Ghana whist the French part announced independence in 1960 from France with the name of Togo. President Sylvano Olympius was overthrown in 1963 and Nicolas Grunitzky took over the control of the land. Nicolas Grunitzky’s era was ended in a bloodless coup in 1967. Eyadema Gnassingbe became the new president of Togo. Eyadema suspended the constitution and banned all political parties. But in 1993, he was forced to legalize political parties in Togo and in the same year first multiparty presidential election was held in Togo. After 38 years of reign, Eyadema Gnassingbe died in 2005. GEOGRAPHY:- Togo is located at 8 00 N, 1 10 E in Western Africa. The country possesses total 56,785 sq km in which 54,385 sq km area in covered with land masses and 2,400 sq km area is covered with internal water sources. The coastline is 56 km long along with the Bight of Benin of the Atlantic Ocean. The lowest point is Atlantic Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Mont Agou (986 m). Togo is composed of gently rolling savannas in the north, central hills, southern plateau, and low coastal plains with extensive lagoons and marshes. CLIMATE:- The climate of Togo is mostly tropical. The climate varies from hot, humid in the south to semiarid in the north. GOVERNMENT:- Togo is a republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule. The new constitution was approved on 1st July 1992 and adopted by a public referendum on 27th September 1992. The legal system is based on the French-based court system. The three principal branches of the government are: Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime Minister (head of government), and the Council of Ministers. The president is elected by a popular vote on a 5-year term. The prime minister is appointed by the president. The council of ministers is appointed jointly by the president and the prime minister. Legislative branch comprises the unicameral National Assembly (81 seats). Judicial branch comprises the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Principal political parties of Togo are Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais (RPT), Union des Forces de Changement (UFC), Comite d'action pour le Renouveau (CAR), Pan-African Patriotic Convergence Party (CPP), and Democratic Convention of the Togolese People (CDPA). Suffrage is universal for all adults. President Faure Gnassingbé ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Togo is divided into 5 regions: Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, and Savanes. These regions are further subdivided into 30 prefectures and 1 commune. CULTURE:- Ewe, Mina, and Kabre cultures are prominent and predominant in Togo’s culture. Football is the most popular sport in Togo. ECONOMY:- Togo’s economy rests on mainly commercial and subsistence agriculture, providing 65% employment. The 4th largest producer of phosphate in the world, received economic aids from the World Bank and the IMF for economic reforms. GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $5.208 billion; per capita $800. Real growth rate: 2.1%. Inflation: 1%. Unemployment: NA. Arable land: 44%. Agriculture: Coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish. Labor force: 1.302 million (1998); agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.). Industries: Phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages. Budget: Debt - external: $2 billion (2005) Natural resources: Phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land. Exports: $768 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa. Imports: $1.047 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products. Major trading partners: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, Mali, China, India, France, Côte d'Ivoire (2004). Monetary unit: CFA Franc LANGUAGE:- French is the official and the language of commerce in Togo. Ewe and Mina are the two major African languages widely spoken in the south whilst Kabye and Dagomba are the two major African languages spoken in the north. CITIES:- The city of Lomé is the capital and the largest city of Togo as well. Other major cities are Sokodé, Kara, Atakpamé, and Dapaong. POPULATION:- The population of Togo is estimated 5,701,579 with an average growth rate of 2.7%. RACE:- RELIGION:- HEALTH:- UNICEF:- Togo is polio-free since 2003. Immunization against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus is going on at a high rate. Thousands of displaced persons received food and other humanitarian assistance from UNICEF and its partners. UNICEF assisted 230 conflict-affected children to reunify with their families. UNICEF partners with the government to improve education system. Teachers are being trained to eliminate discrimination against girls in the classroom. UNICEF fights against child trafficking with a new law in Togo and 35 magistrates are trained to implement the new legislation. TRANSPORTATION:- Posted by subhasis on Tuesday Aug 19 reply Comments |
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