The Togolese Revenue Office has just published a series of reductions in customs duties on imported vehicles until December 24, a practice that has been underway for several years. Some would think that the Covid-19 crisis would be taken into account by the Togolese government this year by offering additional discounts on the import of used vehicles

 Many Togolese from abroad and local operators complain about the overestimated values of used vehicles at the port of Lomé by the agency in charge, ultimately making customs taxes exorbitant, and the trade in cars impossible.

Thousands of cars were abandoned at the port of Lomé for several years, the investment funds of car dealers became frozen and local buyers were finally content to buy more affordable rolling coffins to clear customs. A phenomenon that contributes enormously to the risk of accidents on the roads of Togo because full of old cars in poor condition.

The Council of Ministers has just looked into the issue of road traffic accidents, but it would be plausible for the government to reduce customs duties enormously in this period of crisis to allow the wrecks and carcasses of cars stored at the port of Lomé to be recycled.