The Togolese government is launching the Digital Market Intelligence (DMI) platform, a revolutionary AI-powered digital tool to combat food fraud and counterfeiting in the market. Developed by the Swiss group SICPA, this solution leverages product tax marking data to guide inspections and anticipate risks in a country where the tax burden remains limited to approximately 17% of GDP.
DMI: A Central Hub for Predictive Analysis
The DMI platform aggregates several strategic data sources in real time: tax marking of consumer goods, listings of economic operators, field inspection reports, and non-compliance reports.
It uses artificial intelligence to cross-reference this information and produce predictive analyses, identifying high-risk areas for food or tax fraud with 89.89% accuracy.
Instead of random checks, agents now have precise indications of potential anomalies, transforming market regulation into a highly effective, data-driven approach.
A weapon against food fraud and smuggling
Launched on Thursday, March 12, 2026, by the Minister of Economy and Strategic Foresight, Badanam Patoki, the DMI (Directorate of Market Information) specifically targets basic food products (oils, rice, dairy products) often affected by counterfeiting or violations of health standards. It relies on the Automated Product Marking Solution (AMP), implemented nationwide since 2020, which requires importers and manufacturers to affix tax seals to their packaging. By cross-referencing declared production, distribution, and consumption data, the tool detects suspicious discrepancies: phantom stocks, undeclared imports, or volumes distributed without proper taxation.
Tax revenues on the rise thanks to AI
The deployment of the DMI (Domestic Market Intelligence) is part of Togo’s strategy to mobilize domestic resources, crucial for financing public investments without increasing the budget deficit. By reducing tax leaks linked to food fraud (estimated at several hundred million CFA francs per year), the government aims to sustainably raise the tax burden above the current 17% of GDP.
Minister Patoki described this initiative as “an important step in using innovative technologies to regulate the market.”
A model for West Africa
Togo is positioning itself as a pioneer in West Africa in the use of AI applied to the economic and health monitoring of food markets. The platform complements regional efforts to combat food insecurity, where fraud involving basic commodities exacerbates the vulnerability of populations and distorts fair competition.
In the long term, the DMI could inspire other WAEMU countries facing the same challenges: counterfeit edible oils, adulterated rice, or dairy products that do not comply with ECOWAS standards.
Prospects and future challenges
In addition to combating food fraud, the platform aims to extend its analyses to other sensitive sectors: tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and consumer electronics. The Togolese government plans a pilot evaluation phase before full national deployment, including training for inspectors on how to use the predictive dashboards.
The success of the DMI will depend on its acceptance by economic actors and its ability to balance anti-fraud effectiveness with the smooth flow of trade.
