Ministers​ for Life: The Reality of​ Togo’s Government

During a debate on France 24, Minister Gilbert Bawara was bombarded with ⁤questions about his 17-year ⁢tenure as a minister. This is the sad reality in ⁣Togo, where some citizens are called ‌to be ministers⁤ for life due to their family and political situation.

Since Faure Gnassingbé came to‌ power, some⁤ people‍ have been appointed eternally to the ⁢government. Their profession: Minister of the Republic. It became a career, a vocation, a job. Some in Faure‌ Gnassingbé’s entourage have served 17 years as ministers, while the Great Chief himself, ​who ‌has been ‍the head of Togo for almost 20 years, recently changed the Constitution to remain eternally president.

The minister ⁢of ⁤the ‌Republic has, above all,‌ the⁤ mission of serving his ‌country. He is at the ​service of the people. He must therefore exercise his function in the service of the Togolese. But in Togo, people​ use their position as a ​minister for personal development. In Togo where corruption is ‍endemic and those in power feel no need to be accountable ​to the people, becoming⁤ a minister ​is‌ the perfect opportunity ⁤to get rich and gather material ‌enjoyment.

Foli-Bazi Katari: Survivor of the Eyadema ​Era

Foli-Bazi Katari⁢ is a native of Sokodé who had held a number of​ positions of high responsibility before being appointed as Keeper of the⁤ Seals,⁤ the ⁤Minister of Justice responsible for⁤ promoting democracy and the rule of law. ⁣He served in the government together with Faure Gnassingbé and played a leading role in the painful period that Togo ⁤experienced after the death of Gnassingbé Eyadema.

Gilbert Bawara: Minister‍ for 17 Years

Gilbert Bawara, the‍ current Minister of Public Service Reform, ‍Labor and Social Dialogue, has ‍been a minister for 17 years. ‍He was ⁣named‍ for⁢ the first time on June 20, 2005, in Faure Gnassingbé’s very first team. He⁢ has been regularly recycled⁣ in successive governments and has held a ministerial position for 17 years.

Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé: ​16⁢ Years‌ in ⁣Government

Victoire Tomegah-Dogbé, the current Head of Government, is one of the most diligent in Faure Gnassingbé’s team. She was discovered in 2008 by Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, the Prime⁢ Minister at the time, who brought ​her into ‌government‌ as Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister. She has never left⁣ the executive committee and‌ was reappointed Prime Minister⁣ on August 1, 2024.

Cina ⁤Lawson: ‌14 Years Minister

Cina​ Lawson has never left government since her appointment ‌on May 28, 2010 ⁣as ‌Minister of ⁣Jobs and Telecommunications. She​ has always been reappointed during ​every ministerial reshuffle and has‌ a total of ⁣14 years in government.

Robert⁤ Dussey: Eternal Head of Togolese Diplomacy

Robert Dussey has never⁤ left ​the government since his entry on September 17, 2013. He ⁤has been a minister for 11 years, just like the ‍securocrat Yark Damehame ​who currently⁣ controls the portfolio fisheries, animal resources and regulation of transmigration.

These ministers form a shock team around Faure Gnassingbé, and it seems that they were⁤ all born ministers.