The meeting was held in the customary standing-room-only format, to present New Year's greetings and discuss prospects for the new year that has just begun.
Marked by the presence of H.E. Dr. Claudius Fisbach, German Ambassador to Togo, and a representative of the mayor of the Golfe 1 commune of Lomé, the cocktail party brought together some fifty partners to share a moment of conviviality and fraternity. The year 2024 promises to be full of security and democratic challenges for all countries in the West African sub-region, with Togo set to hold regional elections for the first time in its history next April.
Speaking of Togo, Dr. Koffi Kpotchou, senior lecturer, spoke to participants on the theme of "Population growth in Togo in the face of environmental and socio-economic challenges".
According to him, "it's true that with accelerating population growth and modest growth, it's difficult to face up to the major challenges of the day, such as major diseases, unemployment, environmental degradation and extreme poverty". The expert goes on to say, however, that there is no alternative to finding solutions to these problems, to give every human being the opportunity to aspire to and enjoy a healthy life in which their basic rights and needs are respected. "The solution lies in the formulation and implementation of appropriate policies and strategies that capitalize on the dividends of population growth and minimize its negative impacts", he concludes.
The KAS Resident Representative and Director of the Regional Program for Political Dialogue in West Africa (PDWA) reiterated KAS's commitment to working alongside its local partners to accompany and support their respective efforts.
Several activities are planned for 2024 in Lomé, and we'll be discovering them together as our annual program of activities unfolds. Stay tuned!
