Picture: Togo's stand at the EITI National Expo
The EITI Board today (22 May) declared Togo to be 'Compliant' with the EITI Standard. This means that Togo has an effective process for annual disclosure and reconciliation of all government revenues from its extractive sector. These figures, compiled in EITI Reports, allow citizens of to see how much their government receive from natural resources.
HE Kwesi Séléagodji Ahoomey-Zunu, Prime Minister of the Republic of Togo, said: ”The governance of extractives through transparency and accountability of government revenues has become a passion not only for government but also for the citizens. There are no more reasons to go backwards, but in contrary, we can only extend it to other sectors so that confidence amongst population will be fully achieved”.
In 2011, the government of Togo collected US$ 31 million in revenues from oil, mining and water according to the 2011 EITI Report. The extractive sector thus generated a modest 4.8% of total government income in 2011. Ongoing reforms to revive the mining sector combined with the discovery of new large deposits are expected to increase production and the significance of the mining sector in the coming years.
Implementation of EITI in Togo has been supported by the EITI Multi-Donor Trust Fund, which is administered by the World Bank.
The decision of the Board on the EITI status of Togo in full:
The EITI Board designates Togo as EITI Compliant as of 22 May 2013. In accordance with the EITI Rules:
- Togo must be revalidated within 5 years (i.e. by 22 May2018.) The MSG is advised that the Board is currently reviewing the validation procedures, including proposals relating to timing for revalidation of Compliant countries. Accordingly this deadline may be modified;
- Stakeholders in the process may call for a new validation at any time within that period if they think the process needs reviewing;
- Where valid concerns exist that a country has become EITI Compliant, but its implementation of the EITI has subsequently fallen below the standard required for Compliance, then the Board reserves the right to require the country to undergo a new validation or face delisting from the EITI;
- In accordance with the 2011 edition of the EITI Rules, Togo is required to produce EITI reports annually. EITI Reports should cover data no older than the second to last complete accounting period (e.g. an EITI Report published in calendar/financial year 2013 should be based on data no later than calendar/financial year 2011); and
- In accordance with requirement 21(c), Togo is required to publish a public report annually on the previous year’s activities, detailing progress in implementing the EITI and any recommendations from the validator.
In all decisions on Validation the Board places a priority on the need for comparable treatment between countries and the need to protect the integrity of the EITI brand. The Board reviewed the Validator’s report in detail. The Board agreed with the Validator’s assessments on all requirements.
The Board congratulates the government of Togo for its sustained commitment and leadership of the EITI process. The Board also congratulates Togo’s EITI Supervisory Council and the Steering Committee for its efforts and effective leadership in EITI implementation.The Board also thanked the Validator and all stakeholders involved in the validation process.
