Togo appoints Yawa Tségan to lead tax authority in push for fiscal sovereignty
Togo is making a strategic shift in its public finance governance. Succeeding Philippe Kokou Tchodié, Yawa Chantal Tségan has taken the helm of the Togolese Revenue Office (Office Togolais des Recettes – OTR) at a time when the state is intensifying its quest for budgetary autonomy and economic performance. The appointment, officialized on October 24, 2025, symbolizes the government’s will to ensure continuity while injecting new dynamism into mobilizing domestic resources.
A seasoned technocrat, former President of the National Assembly, and a graduate of the Clermont-Ferrand National School of Taxation, Yawa Tségan combines administrative rigor with political acumen.
This dual profile is a major asset for leading an institution central to the nation’s development funding strategy.
Under Philippe Tchodié’s leadership, the OTR achieved significant milestones, collecting nearly 990.1 billion CFA francs in 2023, or 108.6% of its target. By the end of August 2025, 737.2 billion CFA francs had already been collected, confirming this sustained momentum.
The mission for the new OTR Commissioner is complex: to broaden the tax base, combat fraud, increase direct taxes (which still account for only 25% of revenue), and continue the digitalization of services.
Her appointment coincides with the implementation of Togo’s new constitution, marking a phase of political and institutional refoundation for the country.
In this context, the OTR’s performance becomes a key indicator of Togo’s capacity to finance its development through its own means.
The objective is clear: to consolidate gains, modernize fiscal governance, and establish the OTR as a durable engine for Togolese economic sovereignty.
Kodjovi Makafui
