Independence Day: April 27, 1960
Head of state: President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé
Head of government: Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah Dogbe
Political system: Presidential multiparty system
Democracy Status Index (BTI): Rank 78 of 137 (2020)
Corruption Index (CPI): Rank 123 of 180 (2019)
Ibrahim Index of African Governance: Rank 30 of 54 (2018)
Currency: Franc CFA
Exchange rate: 655,957 per € (fixed exchange rate)
Time zone: GMT
Country code (phone): +228 (00228)
Climate (for capital): tropical, hot and humid
Housing and supply
As a rule, the employer or the sending organization will help you find accommodation. It shouldn’t be difficult to find the right apartment, as there are enough free apartments available. If you want to live comfortably in Lomé, you can do so in many different parts of the city, even in the middle of society. But there is also a secure residential area in the city, in which you can live very isolated from the population.
The range of goods (e.g. groceries) is mainly in Lomévery diverse and offers many European import products. International supermarkets are increasingly opening branches in the capital. But that shouldn’t prevent you from trying the delicacies of Togolese cuisine. In the inland cities, the range of goods is more geared towards the needs of the Togolese population. You will find a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables in the markets.
The clothing and footwear market is dominated by China, and the products are very short-lived. Other branded products can only be bought second-hand due to the high new prices. In principle, you often have the choice between used products from Europe or new and affordable goods from China, whereby the quality is often reflected in the price. Usually, clothes are made by tailors and the fabric is bought beforehand on the market.
In any case, it is interesting to change your perspective and look at everyday life and its inadequacies from the perspective of the Togolese people.
Money and money transfer
According to thereligionfaqs, Togo belongs to the West African Economic and Monetary Union Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest-Africaine (UEMOA) and its currency is the CFA Franc (Franc de la Communauté Financière d’Afrique), which has a fixed exchange rate of 655.957 CFA Francs to the Euro is coupled. Make sure that you have enough change with you, because market women, for example, often have no change to hand out on (large) bills. For money transfers to Togo, the companies Western Union, Money Gram and Ria their service, which is fast and reliable, but also expensive. Money can be withdrawn from the machines using VISA cards, which are more reliable than Mastercards. Eco-Bank offers the Rapidtransfer service for intra-Togolese and African money transfers .
Without a declaration, banknotes with a value of up to 500,000 F-CFA (approx. € 750) may only be exported.
Stay healthy
Current travel medical information on Togo is available from the Travel Medical Information Service and the Travel Medical Center of the Tropical Institute Hamburg. The medical information from the Federal Foreign Office should also be taken into account.
Medical care in the country cannot be compared with Europe and is often problematic in terms of technology, equipment and / or hygiene. The number of adequately trained specialists is limited. Medical care in Lomé is limited, but there are French-speaking specialists from many disciplines available, and some doctors speak German. Predictable operations should only be carried out in Europe. Only a few private clinics, such as the Clinique Biasa in Lomé, can be considered for emergencies. There is no reliable ambulance service. Your sending organization or the German embassy will give you the latest addresses of doctors and hospitals.
The pharmacies in Lomé have a sufficient range of important standard medicines, often of French origin. Counterfeit drugs with unsafe content occur. Local hospitals and doctors often require prepayment.
Malaria prophylaxis, a preventive treatment with anti-malarial drugs, is recommended for Togo. However, depending on the length of stay, this is associated with serious side effects. Before you go on a trip, get personal advice from tropical medicine advice centers, tropical medicine specialists or travel medicine specialists and adjust your vaccination protection, even if you have already experienced the tropics from other regions. In addition, it is recommended to provide the windows and doors of the apartment with wire mesh (flywire) and to attach mosquito nets to the beds.
Not only because of HIV / AIDS is the motto “Safer Sex”!
