Togo
Togo is on the south coast of West Africa bordering on Ghana to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Benin to the east. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lome is located. Togo covers an area of approximately 57,000 square kilometers with a population of approximately 6.7 million. Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with a climate that provides good growing seasons. The official language is French. However, there are many other languages spoken, particularly those of the Gbe family. The largest religious group in Togo is those with indigenous beliefs, but there are significant Christian and Muslim minorities. Togo is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Organization of the Islamic Conference, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophone and Economic Community of West African States.The only port is at Lomé. The Togo hills traverse the central section.
Togo’s small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for 65% of the labor force. Cotton, coffee and cocoa together generate about 40% of export earnings. In the industrial sector, phosphate mining is no longer the most important activity, as cement and clinker export to neighbouring countries have taken over.
The country’s main imports are machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, and petroleum products; the leading exports are cotton, phosphates, coffee, and cocoa and its principal trade partners are Ghana, Burkina Faso, France, and China.
