After the stage of municipal elections which led to the establishment of town halls throughout the territory, Togo wants to initiate the second phase of decentralization with the organization of regional elections. What will be the missions of the regional councils?
It is article 240 of the law relating to decentralization and local freedoms which refers to the role of the regional council. It regulates, through its deliberations, the affairs of the region.
Within the framework of the competences of the region determined by articles 233, 234 and 235 of this law, the regional council decides definitively on the following matters: “The acquisition, the alienation and the exchange of movable or immovable properties; leases of goods given or taken on lease or on rent, regardless of the duration; the change of use of properties and regional buildings; the acceptance of donations and legacies to the region, provided that these donations and legacies do not give rise to a claim; classification or declassification, opening, rehabilitation, maintenance of regional roads and trails, projects, plans and specifications for work to be carried out for the construction and rectification of these roads”.
They also evaluate the acceptance of offers of assistance for carrying out new work or major repairs to the said tracks; the opinions concerning the work to be carried out with the financial assistance of the State and possibly, with that of other local authorities; the approval of all projects, plans and estimates of all work to be carried out on the funds of the regional budget; the assessment of the proposals made by the municipalities, associations and individuals to contribute to expenditure of regional interest.
In addition, they order the establishment and maintenance of bridges, ferries and water crossings on regional roads; transactions concerning the rights of the region; actions to be taken or supported on behalf of the region; setting the region’s share of expenses shared with other local authorities; the establishment, suppression or change of fairs and markets; and the vote of the budget of the region in accordance with the budgetary procedure in force.
The definition, elaboration and adoption of the economic and social development program of the region; the contributory share to be imposed on the region in works carried out by the State and which are of interest to the region; the creation and management of regional public services within the framework set by law also fall within the remit of the regional councils.
It is necessary to underline it, the control of the legality of the actions of the regional councils will be carried out by the governors of regions. They are the representatives of the central power in the region. These governors will be appointed by the Head of State. They are for the regions what the prefects are for the prefectures.