Koffi Sama

Template:Short description Template:Infobox officeholder Koffi Sama (born 1944<ref name=Unesco>Page on Sama at ibe.unesco.org (PDF) Template:In lang.</ref>) was the Prime Minister of Togo from 29 June 2002 to 9 June 2005.

Biography

Sama was born at Amoutchou in Ogou Prefecture. He was Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture from 1981 to 1984, Regional Director of Rural and Maritime Region Development from 1986 to 1990, and Director-General of the Togolese Cotton Company from 1990 to 1996, before re-entering the government as Minister of Health, in which position he served from 1996 to 1999.<ref name=Unesco/>

In the March 1999 parliamentary election, Sama was elected to the National Assembly as the candidate of the ruling Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) in the Third Constituency of Ogou Prefecture; he ran unopposed and won the seat with 100% of the vote.<ref>Journal Officiel de la Republique Togolaise Template:Webarchive, 20 April 1999, page 30 Template:In lang.</ref> He then served as Minister of National Education and Research from 1999<ref name=Unesco/> to 2002.<ref name=June>"Jun 2002 - Togo", Keesing's Record of World Events, volume 48, June 2002, Togo, page 44,830.</ref> On 7 December 2000, he also became the Secretary-General of the RPT.<ref name=Unesco/>

President Gnassingbé Eyadéma appointed Sama as Prime Minister on 27 June 2002, replacing Agbeyome Kodjo;<ref name=June/><ref name=Godwin>Ebow Godwin, "Togolese president sacks West African nation's prime minister", Associated Press, 29 June 2002.</ref> this move was said to have been done as part of preparations for the parliamentary election that was held later in the year.<ref name=Godwin/> Following the death of Eyadéma on 5 February 2005, Sama, as Prime Minister, announced the news, calling it a "national catastrophe".<ref>"Togolese president Eyadema dies", BBC News, 5 February 2005.</ref> Sama left office on 9 June 2005, when he was succeeded by Edem Kodjo.<ref>"Former Togolese premier hands over to successor, Edem Kodjo - radio report", Radio Togo, 10 June 2005.</ref>

After serving as Prime Minister, Sama became a Special Advisor to President Faure Gnassingbé, with the rank of Minister; he remains in that post as of 2008.<ref>"Un homme habile et discret" Template:Webarchive, Republicoftogo.com, 4 June 2008 Template:In lang.</ref> He was the head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) observer mission in the Malian April 2007 presidential election.<ref>Serge Daniel, "Mali's president claims poll victory" Template:Webarchive, AFP, 1 May 2007.</ref>

Sama was a member of the RPT College of Sages.<ref>List of members of the College of Sages, RPT website Template:In lang.</ref>