The Togo Public Procurement Regulatory Authority’s Dispute Resolution Committee (CRD) delivered a landmark ruling on June 19, 2026, closing the case on allegations of procedural flaws in the international tender for the PEREL PLUS project—the initiative to expand Lomé’s electrical grid.
The decision, marked as ruling no. 024-2026, followed a thorough review of an investigative report and testimony from the CEET’s public procurement officer. The Committee unequivocally dismissed all claims of irregularities, confirming that the tender process adhered to regulatory standards.
No basis for allegations in PEREL PLUS tender
Two anonymous complaints filed with the ARCOP Togo in late March and early April 2026 had raised concerns about multiple aspects of the tender, including:
- the alleged absence of a prequalification phase,
- a perceived overrepresentation of foreign firms,
- failure to divide the contract into smaller lots,
- and the continued use of allegedly stringent qualification criteria.
However, the CRD’s findings revealed a different reality. The tender had, in fact, undergone a mandatory prequalification stage, during which nine out of fifteen interested companies were shortlisted—demonstrating full compliance with procedural requirements.
International funding framework trumps local rules in PEREL PLUS tender
The tender dossier, linked to financing from an external development agency, also received clearance from both the Togo National Public Procurement Control Directorate (DNCCP) and the funding body. In its ruling, the Committee emphasized that when external financing is involved, the lender’s guidelines take precedence over certain domestic procurement rules—particularly regarding lot structuring.
This clarification underscores the delicate balance between national regulations and international funding mandates in large-scale infrastructure projects.
