Togo: Toward a partnership between cloth traders and the World Bank Group
A pivotal meeting took place in Lomé on Friday, September 20, 2024, between Togolese authorities, a delegation from the World Bank Group, and the renowned cloth traders known as the Nana-Benz. The meeting, chaired by Sandra Ablamba Johnson, Minister and Secretary General of the Presidency, explored a potential partnership between Togo and the World Bank to promote female entrepreneurship in the country.
The primary goal of the meeting was to discuss ways to support the revival of the cloth trade sector, once dominated by the Nana-Benz, who were iconic figures in the Togolese economy. For several decades, up until the 1990s, these influential women ruled the cloth trade in Lomé and across West Africa. However, since their gradual decline, their successors have faced numerous challenges, including limited access to financing and difficulties in maintaining the sector’s influence.
In this context, Sandra Ablamba Johnson, who also serves as Togo’s representative to the World Bank, emphasized the importance of exploring new collaborative opportunities with the international institution to support the next generation of cloth traders. Tailored financial assistance could help foster the emergence of new female entrepreneurs ready to revitalize and modernize this strategic sector.
This potential partnership aligns with Togo’s ongoing progress in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. With a score of 97.5 out of 100 in the World Bank’s “Women, Business and Law 2024” report, Togo ranks as one of the top African economies for women’s rights. Such a partnership would mark a decisive step toward expanding the commercial activities of Togolese women, further cementing their essential role in the national economy.
This initiative brings hope not only to the cloth traders but to all female entrepreneurs in Togo. It could open new avenues for growth, amplify their economic impact, and ensure the passing of this unique commercial legacy to future generations.
