FACTS ABOUT TOGO

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT TOGO

1.                 The official name of Togo is the “Togolese Republic”.

2.                 Lome is the capital city of Togo.

3.                 The total population of Togo is 7,965,055.

4.                 The natives of Togo are called Togolese.

5.                 The CFA franc (XOF) is official currency of Togo.

6.                 Togo shares a border with Ghana, Benin and Burkina Faso.

7.                 Togo and its surrounding regions were known as “the slave coast” between the 16th and the 18th century because Europeans would come to the region in search of slaves.

8.                 Togo has a rich history of religion. Almost half of the Togolese population are Christian, many of them being protestants, independent or other Christian communities.

9.                 Togo has secular celebrations. Some of the celebrations include: 1 January – Fete National and 27 April – Independence Day. These celebrations open a window for job opportunities and they attract more tourists.

10.            Traditional healing methods are widely used in Togo. Each center has an herbalist. Medical treatments usually involve frequent visits to the house of Vodou and the local Fetish priest. However, the traditional treatment is not much effective.

11.            Public show of affection is minimal in Togo. Only men and boys are allowed to walk holding hands. Coupling is discretely secret and it is not steered by parents. It is only in some ethnic groups like the Tchama that parents make arrangements for courting.

12.            Togolese usually have two to three meals a day and they are very hospitable. Each meal consists of a large portion of starch such as maize, cassava and rice. Proteins served with day meals usually include; goat meat, fish, and beans.

13.            Food is not served in ceremonial functions except when carrying out animist rituals when animals are sacrificed, cooked and served. However, beer and gin are essential. The French three or four meal course is served to the wealthy middle class Togolese during functions.

14.            The society in Togo was divided according to traditional and non-traditional lines. The kings, Vodou priests, and paramount chiefs are the elite. The educated, business professionals and government officials entail modern elite.

15.            Children remain at home till they reach five years of age. Kids go to school for formal education once they cross this age limit.

16.            Togo’s population is challenged with parasitic, venereal, intestinal and respiratory health problems.

17.            Togo means ‘house of sea’ in the Ewe language.

18.            Togo had a great railway network during the reign of the German. During the outbreak of First World War in 1914, Togo was drawn into a conflict. It was invaded by the British and French armies during the Togo-land campaign. In 1916, the territory was divided into French and British zones and this was made formal in 1922.

19.            Togo became independent on 27 April 1960. In a smooth transition, Togo served its constitutional ties with France. It shed its UN trusteeship and became fully independent with Olympio as the president.

20.            Olympio’s government was overthrown and he was assassinated in a coup on 13 January 1963. The coup was led by army’s non-commissioned officers who were dissatisfied with the conditions following their discharge from the French army.

21.            Grunitzky was the first prime minister of Togo. Two days after Olympio was assassinated, Grunitzky came back to Togo to head the government as prime minister.

22.            Gnassingbe Eyadema was the longest-serving president of Togo and died in 2005. He served for thirty-eight years, after being the longest dictator to hold occupation in Africa.

23.            The Ewe who migrated from Nigeria in the fourteenth century forms the major ethnic group in Togo.

24.            Togo was put on the World stage by the national soccer team which reached the FIFA World Cup in 2006.

25.            The Portuguese arrived in Togo in the 15th century but did not settle.

26.            Slavery was abolished in Togo in the nineteenth century.

27.            Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate 40% of Togo’s exports.

28.            Cotton is the most important cash crop.

29.            The government contributes in accountability of taxes collected by spending 25.5 percent of gross domestic output in development.

30.            Bargain, bargain, and bargain. Togolese business people inflate prices so as to make handsome profits. So if you are in the country, always bargain for the price and see for yourself how low you can buy the item for.

31.            Togo has many limestone mines which have created employment opportunities. The mine have increased Togo’s contribution to Africa export market.

32.            The constitution of Togo has well stipulated laws on the protection of real private property and inheritance.

33.            Togo is a member of West African economic and monetary union. The foreign and domestic investors are treated equally.

34.            Togo’s safe territorial waters have become good zones for international shippers amid regional surge in maritime piracy.

35.            Togo is one of the world’s largest producers of phosphate, with coffee, cocoa and cotton accounting for 40 percent of export earnings.

36.            In the year 2014, the federal government of Togo reduced fees payedhere is high infant mortality. 125 children out of 1,000 die before they reach five years, owing to lack of resources such as water, road infrastructure, medical facilities and good education on nutrition to parents.

37.            Togolese health care system is poor due to lack of resources to put up modern health facilities and high population growth rate.

38.            Togo has a low percentage of educated adults, the highest number being women who cannot read and write.

39.            Little funds allocated to youth development projects has led to the increase in poverty hence more crimes.

40.            The Togo government only provides 24.7 percent of the money required for education.

41.            Education in Togo is of low quality. This has led to graduates who are not fully baked to run the current dynamic world.

42.            Togo is ranked forty-fourth position out of the fifty most underdeveloped countries in the world. This reflects low per capita income of the general population of Togo.

43.            Togo ranks 152^nd on 2009 United Nations Human Development Index.

44.            Human trafficking is widespread in Togo. Children, especially girls are sold to forms of exploitative arrangements, which amount to slavery.

45.            The Mont Agou at 986 m above sea level is the highest mountain in Togo.

46.            The Mono River with a length of 400 km, running from north to south, is the longest river in the country.

47.            Togo is a long, thin country in West Africa.

48.            Considering its area, Togo is twice the size of Maryland.

49.            Togo has 3 National Parks, 10 faunal reserves, and 84 forest reserves. By businesses to register with tax authorities and implemented electronic customs system to simplify importing and exporting process.

50.            Togo spent 5.2% of its GDP on health care in 2014 and $76 per capita.

51.            Togo Exports: cotton, phosphates, coffee and cocoa.

52.            Togo Imports: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs and petroleum products.