Finance

Community gearing up for progress as renovated Lomé-Cotonou road slashes travel times

Community gearing up for progress as renovated Lomé-Cotonou road slashes travel times
Monday, 04 September 2023 20:07

Matthew Antwi is a haulier and works for a Nigerian business that exports coconuts. He regularly drives the Lomé-Cotonou road from his home country Ghana to deliver the nuts to Nigeria.

2024 apres 8 ans de retard L

A few years ago, it took around two hours to complete all the formalities at the border and up to three hours to get to Aflao (on the border between Togo and Ghana) from the Benin-Togo border-control post,” That was because of “the poor state of the section of road between Lomé and Cotonou,” recounts the driver, seated in the cab of his truck. “But now it’s been renovated, it takes between one and two hours. It’s better for me because I waste less time, and the lighting at night means I feel calmer when driving in the dark.”

Émile Elavagnon is a carpenter in the town of Togokomè, in Togo, which is served by the Avépozo-Aného section. He, too, has a history with the road: “When the works began, we had to clear the road, which meant we lost a lot of customers. But now that it’s usable, we’ve seen some really positive changes,” he grins, adding: “We now have more customers coming from Benin and Ghana, and a lot more visibility. Delivery times are shorter because the road is better. Our deliveries to Lomé used to take us an hour, but now they take a maximum of 45 minutes,” says a delighted Mr Elavagnon.

Matthew and Émile are two of the many people to benefit from the second phase of the Lomé-Cotonou Road Rehabilitation and Coastal Protection Project. The project, funded jointly by the African Development Bank, the European Union, the West African Development Bank (BOAD), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is a vector for development, regional integration and improving the living conditions of the beneficiary populations.

The total cost of the project (US$194.89 million) was funded by the African Development Bank Group (US$39.47 million) in loans and donations from the African Development Fund and the Transition Support Facility, a donation of US$19.48 million from the European Union and contributions in the form of loans or donations from the BOAD, the IsDB and the GEF.

Works associated with renovating the road allowed the refurbishment of the medical and community centre in Agbodrafo and the secondary school in Aného (Togo), to the delight of their inhabitants. As a result, as well as improving driving conditions for hauliers and users, the project has helped improve the everyday lives of local people.

Youmane Fernando Loagui, head of the laboratory at the medical and community centre in Agbodrafo, comments: “Following the refurbishment of the medical centre, staff are now working in better conditions and our ability to welcome and care for patients has improved significantly. Equipment and pharmaceutical products are stored in complete safety,” he explains, before continuing: “There’s now more space, patients feel more comfortable, and their privacy can be respected. We still remember how people used to complain about how cramped the premises were. Maintaining confidentiality was a big issue for us, particularly for patients living with HIV/AIDS, because they often want to remain anonymous. All that now belongs in the past.

The refurbished laboratory in Agbodrafo is attracting more people and it is now considered one of the best in the project area.

We realise the positive impact that infrastructure can have on the living conditions of local people. Following the renovation of the road, our business is doing well, and our living conditions are better, and that’s very motivating,” comments Mr Elavagnon.

The Lomé-Cotonou Road Rehabilitation and Coastal Protection Project (Phase 2) is a flagship infrastructure project in Togo and is aligned with two of the Bank’s five strategic priorities, namely “Integrate Africa” and “Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa”.

It is contributing to enhancing the level of service in the transport logistics chain and keeping traffic flowing on the corridor between Abidjan and Lagos, as well as improving the living conditions of residents in the project’s intervention area.

The project is also strengthening the resilience to climate change of infrastructure in the coastal areas of Togo and Benin. The project provides a direct benefit to transport users and indirectly benefits 1.7 million people in the two countries.

logo BAD

On the same topic
(EBID) - The Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) held its 92nd Ordinary Session on June 30, 2025. The Board...
• The IMF approved a $261.9 million disbursement under DR Congo’s credit program• Economic growth hit 6.5% in 2024, driven by the extractive sector•...
• Ghana’s Parliament approved a $360 million loan from the World Bank’s IDA• The funds will help pay road sector arrears, support vulnerable groups,...
(AMETRADE) - The 15th edition of the annual Africa PPP Summit (#APPP2025) is set to take place on 28 – 31 October 2025 at Hilton Hotel, Windhoek, Republic...
Most Read
01

Lebara Group is now bringing its affordable and reliable mobile services to Africa, starting with Ni...

Telecoms: Lebara Enters Nigerian Market with Strong Competitive Ambitions
02

Transport and food prices have been climbing steadily across Africa in recent years. In Côte d’Ivoir...

Côte d’Ivoire’s Fuel Price Cuts Haven’t Slashed Transport Costs–Yet
03

• BOAD releases CFA10 billion ($17.8 million) to support Boungou and Wahgnion gold mines.• Burkina F...

BOAD Grants CFA10 Billion to Revive Boungou and Wahgnion Gold Mines in Burkina Faso
04

In a West African financial landscape marked by tighter regulation of the fintech sector, digital fi...

In Five Years, Francophone Africa Will be A Major Force in African Tech –Régis Bamba
05

• Maritime sector faces renewed risks amid military tensions in the Middle East• Blockade fears at S...

Israel-Iran conflict raises new threats for global shipping and oil trade
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

Benjamin FLAUX
bf@agenceecofin.com 
Téls: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72
Média kit : Download

EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.