Like a clap of thunder in a calm sky, the information fell, marking a mini-reshuffle of the government of Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé. A surprise all the more so since nothing suggested this, and obviously, the legislative elections expected soon should, after their verdict, lead to a recomposition of the government.
This reshuffle, followed by the speed with which the handover ceremonies took place, convinced most of the fact that there was an emergency, little or not perceived by public opinion but felt as real by the Chief of Staff. the Togolese state himself », Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé. The urgency to breathe new life into government action and to (re)put the new and old alike to work, as the deadline that the Togolese authorities freely set for themselves to do more in terms of social inclusion, materialized by the Togo 2025 Roadmap
The retention of Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé at the head of government leaves no doubt about the confidence that Faure Gnassingbé places in her, to meet the sovereign challenges of the State. A sort of check – blank – left to the Prime Minister? Probably not. The stakes being high, Faure Gnassingbé, the first to assume his mandate and therefore the first responsible for the success or failure of the Five-Year Road Map, the country’s development benchmark until 2025, should ensure his leadership role. And let everyone play their part.
Is the choice of this reworked team, a clever mixture of old and new, carried out by the Togolese president in complicity with the Head of Government, the most judicious? Does Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé have – finally – the dream team to materialize his vision of developing the country on an inclusive basis by 2025?
Obviously, the institutional independence attributed to the department of universal access to care in the reshuffled government, vis-à-vis the Ministry of Health eloquently testifies to the place of choice that this project occupies in the priorities of the president of the Republic and the Head of Government. The appointment of Jean-Marie Tessi, experienced in the task of insurance management to lead this very strategic ministerial portfolio, also seems an opportune choice. At least a priori.
It remains to be seen whether this pure private product will be able to reconcile its expertise with the imperatives of its department which calls for great flexibility in the provision of health care and the mobilization of resources in order to finance an insurance system which should be a reference of sustainability. The entry of Modukpe Manuella Santos into the government to take care of Investment Promotion is also a strong point of this reshuffle while Kayi Mivedor takes over the Commerce portfolio and Kodzo Adedze, the Ministry of Urban Planning.
One of the biggest surprises of this reshuffle remains the replacement of General Yark Damehane as Minister of Security and Civil Protection and his appointment as Minister of State, Minister of Water, in a context where the Defense and security forces are constantly at the front, to repel the terrorist attacks plaguing the north of the country, from Burkina Faso. This heavy responsibility has now been assigned to Ambassador Calixte Madjoulba, a trained soldier, renowned emeritus diplomat, hardworking and professional. At the same time, Yawa Kouigan takes on the responsibility of perfecting government communication.
Security, attraction of investments in a context of promotion of PPPs for the implementation of development projects and job creation and successful social inclusion, constitute the triptych of challenges that the new government team should tackle.
As for whether Faure Gnassingbé has found himself “ la dream team », the dream team for this mission, it is too early to say. The time and actions of the members of this government will edify us. Until then!
