Article  Posté le 14:49 15-03-2023, modifié le 14:49 15-03-2023 par Tournons la Page

As part of the actions carried out following the publication of the audit report of the Court of Accounts of Togo, on the Covid-19, sur le Fonds de Riposte et de Solidarité Covid – 19 (FRSC), gestion 2020, les Organisations de la Société Civile (OSC) togolaise, notamment : la Coalition Lidaw –– le Fonds de Solidarité pour la promotion des Droits Syndicaux et Humains et des Droits Sociaux économiques (FONDESC) – la Solidarité Planétaire Branche Togo (SPBT) – la Coalition de la Diaspora Togolaise pour l’Alternance et la Démocratie (CODITOGO) – la Fédération Togolaise du Bois et de la Construction (FTBC) – le Syndicat des Praticiens Hospitaliers du Togo (SYNPHOT) – la Synergie des Travailleurs du Togo (STT) – la Synergie des Jeunes pour le Développement Social (SJDS) – Novation Internationale (NI) – les Femmes Pyramide (FP) – Tournons la Page Togo (TLP Togo) – le Front Citoyen Togo Debout (FCTD) sign the present declaration.

Considering that, at a time when the Togolese men and women were fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic and paying a heavy price, notably

• The loss of human lives of health workers, for lack of adequate protective equipment;
• Forced unemployment of workers;
• The failure of businesses;
• The temporary closure of markets, which has had an impact on women's activities, reduced their purchasing power, and made it more difficult for households to afford one meal a day;
• The exactions of the FDS, which caused loss of life during the curfew period, authorities in charge of managing this health crisis were committing acts of corruption, which constitutes an aggravating circumstance.

The CSO signatories of this declaration note the deterioration of the socio-economic context marked by the perpetuation of the inflationary crisis, a poorly thought out process of clearing public roads and express their indignation at the failure to revive the economy as planned during the establishment of the FRSC.

The CSOs signatories of this declaration express their sincere regret at the use made of the FRSC, which has not even enabled Togo to equip itself with modern health centers, capable of bringing about a positive structural transformation of our health system so that it responds efficiently to the health needs of the Togolese people.

The CSOs signatories of this declaration are surprised by the treatment that the government has given to the audit report of the Court of Deputies, notably by the release of the communiqué of February 9, 2023 and the parliamentary session of February 21, 2023 during which the explanations of the various ministers were not convincing.

The CSOs signatories of this declaration take offence at this kind of behavior which confirms once again that misappropriation of public funds has become a system of governance and is affecting the financing capacity of the Togolese economy.

The CSOs, by the present declaration, reaffirm their total support to the one of February 14, 2023, formulated by the Coalition Lidaw – le Front Citoyen Togo Debout – le Fonds de Solidarité pour la promotion des Droits Syndicaux et Humains et des Droits Sociaux économiques (FONDESC) – la Solidarité Planétaire Branche Togo (SPBT) – la Coalition de la Diaspora Togolaise pour l’Alternance et la Démocratie (CODITOGO), and stating:

1. The filing of a complaint against X, with the Prosecutor of the Republic;
2. The demand for the resignation of the entire current government of Togo;
3. The demand that no Minister, Minister Delegate, Advisor with the rank of Minister, Secretary of State, belonging to the present government, should be included in the next government to be set up;
4. The request that the next government should take up the file on the audit report of the Court of Auditors so that a judicial and political follow-up is given;
5. The request to the President of the National Assembly that an extraordinary parliamentary session be convened in a timely manner to examine the audit report through an independent parliamentary commission of inquiry, in order to determine the responsibilities towards the Togolese people who gave them a mandate;
6. The request to the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) to proceed, on the basis of this audit report, and in accordance with the legal provisions, with a tax audit or tax adjustment of all companies that have been cited as recipients of public contracts in the audit report;
7. The request addressed to his Excellency the President of the Republic, so that he takes his responsibilities in front of the people and in front of history, so that finally, the impunity of economic crimes which has been raging in the country for decades comes to an end. He must also seize this opportunity to commission an audit of the FRSC for the 2021 and 2022 management;
8. The request to Togo's technical and financial partners to hold the Togolese authorities accountable for the revelations described in the audit report specifically, and for the management of Covid funds in general, and to take the necessary steps to ensure that future public development aid is provided under optimal conditions of transparency and management.

The CSOs, which have signed this declaration, announce to the entire Togolese population that they are organizing on Saturday, April 1, 2023, starting at 2:00 p.m., an information meeting on the actions carried out in the context of the publication of the audit report of the Court of Auditors on the Covid - 19 Response and Solidarity Fund (FRSC), 2020 management.

The CSOs signatories of this declaration, ask the sovereign people to mobilize massively to respond to this call in order to demand that a judicial and political follow-up be given to the abuses and that the responsibilities be clearly located.

The CSOs, signatories of the present declaration, call on all the active forces of the Togolese nation to join the mobilization of April 1, 2023 to mark the end of impunity for economic crimes in our country.
                                                  "STOP ECONOMIC CRIMES AND IMPUNITY"

Done in Lomé, on March 06, 2023.

Signed by :

la Coalition Lidaw –– le Fonds de Solidarité pour la promotion des Droits Syndicaux et Humains et des Droits Sociaux économiques (FONDESC) – la Solidarité Planétaire Branche Togo (SPBT) – la Coalition de la Diaspora Togolaise pour l’Alternance et la Démocratie (CODITOGO) – la Fédération Togolaise du Bois et de la Construction (FTBC) – le Syndicat des Praticiens Hospitaliers du Togo (SYNPHOT) – la Synergie des Travailleurs du Togo (STT) – la Synergie des Jeunes pour le Développement Social (SJDS) – Novation Internationale (NI) – les Femmes Pyramide (FP) – Tournons la Page Togo (TLP Togo) – le Front Citoyen Togo Debout (FCTD)

Photo : Palais de Lomé, 2019
December 22nd, 2019 
By : Nero2022