AGP Executive Report

ECOWAS Trade & Borders: ECOWAS held a stakeholder dialogue at the Noépé-Akanu border post (Togo–Ghana) to cut delays on the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, tackle harassment and information gaps, and push better use of tools like biometric IDs and SIGMAT to make free movement work for traders and travelers. Banking & Regional Commerce: Ecobank’s regional executive visited Malawi to deepen customer relationships and partnerships, with Ecobank Malawi stressing alignment with the group’s growth and returns agenda. Togo Conservation & Green Investment: Togo adopted new rules for protected areas, strengthening conservation, community rights, compensation and financing—aimed at boosting the green economy and attracting investment. Lomé Food Industry Push: Festival La Marmite (FESMA) opened in Lomé with about 100 exhibitors, spotlighting local food value chains, certification and packaging upgrades, and food industry innovation (with China as guest of honor). Swiss Diplomatic Link: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, signaling continued cooperation on governance, trade, investment and climate action. Regional Energy/Policy Watch: A UN report says a $50m al-Qaida-linked hostage ransom in Mali helped fund expansion across West Africa, raising fresh concerns for counter-terror financing.

ECOWAS Border Trade Push: ECOWAS Commission held stakeholder talks at the Noépé-Akanu joint border post (Ghana–Togo) to cut delays and improve movement of people and goods along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, with calls for sustained public education on the Free Movement protocol and better coordination with local authorities and traders. Banking & Trade Facilitation: Ecobank’s regional executive visited Malawi to deepen customer focus and partnerships; meanwhile Fidelity Bank urged harmonised customs systems and stronger institutional support to reduce bureaucracy costs for traders—especially women—who import via Lomé and other regional routes. Green Economy & Conservation: Togo adopted new rules for protected areas, clarifying conservation management, community rights, compensation and financing—part of efforts to attract green investment and scale value chains around ecotourism and green jobs. Diplomacy: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, signaling renewed engagement across government, business and civil society. Business Events: Festival La Marmite (FESMA) opened in Lomé with food-industry exhibitors and a push to boost local product visibility, skills and innovation.

ECOWAS Border Trade Push: ECOWAS held stakeholder talks at the Noépé-Akanu border post to cut delays on the Abidjan–Lagos corridor and improve services for traders and travellers, with calls for better use of tools like biometric IDs and joint border posts. Cross-Border Protocol Awareness: Ketu North’s MCE urged ECOWAS to keep sensitising border communities so people understand their rights and responsibilities under the free movement protocol. Protected Areas Law for Green Investment: Togo adopted new rules for protected areas, strengthening conservation, community rights, compensation and financing as the country seeks more green-economy investment. Food Industry Boost: Lomé’s Festival La Marmite (FESMA) opened with about 100 exhibitors, aiming to raise the visibility of local products and push food-industry innovation. Diplomatic Appointments: Switzerland named Dr Thomas Oertle ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, signalling deeper cooperation on trade, investment and development. Regional Security & Finance: UN experts said a $50m al-Qaeda-linked hostage ransom in Mali helped fund advances across West Africa, with sources pointing to the UAE as the payer.

ECOWAS Trade Push: ECOWAS is holding border dialogues at the Noépé-Akanu crossing to cut delays on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor, tackling issues like harassment, limited information and administrative bottlenecks that hit traders and travellers—especially women and young businesses. Border Community Focus: Ketu North’s MCE Rev. Martin Amenaki urged ECOWAS to keep sensitising residents on their rights and responsibilities under the free movement protocol, and to work closely with municipal bodies, security agencies and traditional authorities. Green Investment Rules: Togo adopted a new law on protected areas, strengthening conservation financing and community rights, as the country seeks to attract investment into its green economy and value chains linked to ecotourism and green jobs. Swiss Diplomatic Link: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, signalling renewed engagement across government, business and civil society. Food Industry Momentum: Lomé’s Festival La Marmite (FESMA) opened with a focus on local food value chains, innovation and product quality, with China as guest of honour. Youth & Skills: The Lomé Youth Book Fair (SALIJEL) is set for Oct 14–17, aiming to strengthen West African publishing links and professional networks. Security & Finance Watch: UN experts say a reported $50m hostage ransom paid in Mali helped fund al-Qaeda-linked advances across West Africa, with sources pointing to the UAE as the payer.

Protected Areas & Green Investment: Togo adopted a new law on creating and managing protected areas, clarifying conservation rules, community rights, compensation and financing, as the country pushes its green economy agenda. Diplomacy: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, with a background spanning development cooperation and senior postings across Africa and the Middle East. Regional Trade & Free Movement: ECOWAS held sensitisation sessions with border communities at the Akanu-Noepe post on the Free Movement protocol along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, focusing on traders and travellers’ challenges. Food & Business Events: Lomé’s Festival La Marmite (FESMA) opened August 12, spotlighting local food value chains and innovation with China as guest of honour. Youth & Skills: A first cohort of 23 Ghanaian migrant returnees completed an IOM-DHL Ubuntu Academy logistics training in Accra, aimed at reintegration and sustainable livelihoods. Public Health & Enforcement: Ho Municipal Assembly destroyed expired and unwholesome beverages and food products after court action against a retailer.

Diplomatic Appointments: Switzerland has named Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, promising closer engagement with government, business, academia and civil society. U.S.-Nigeria Consular Shift: Brandon Hudspeth was appointed U.S. Consul General in Lagos as routine visa services moved from Abuja to Lagos from August 1, 2026—an update that matters for cross-border business travel. Migrant Skills & Jobs: In Ghana, 23 migrant returnees graduated from an IOM-DHL Ubuntu Academy logistics programme, highlighting how public-private partnerships can speed reintegration and livelihoods. Food Industry & Agro-Innovation: Togo’s Festival La Marmite (FESMA) opened in Lomé, spotlighting local food value chains, innovation projects and skills for industry players. Local Business & Culture: The 2026 Asogli Te Za yam festival launched in Ho with an agenda that includes youth entrepreneurship, an anti-corruption forum and a major economic forum. Trade Facilitation: Fidelity Bank Ghana urged harmonised customs systems across West Africa to cut bureaucracy and costs for traders—especially women importing via Lomé and Nigeria. Togo’s Private Sector Spotlight: Do Pharma’s Frédéric DOVI-AKUE profile highlights local production of intravenous solutions in Avéta to reduce import dependence and expand regional supply. Aviation Growth: ASKY CEO Esayas Woldemariam Hailu says fleet expansion and new routes (including Lomé–Kano) are strengthening Lomé’s role as a regional aviation hub. Energy Resilience Theme: A separate regional focus on energy resilience and solar roadmaps underscores the wider push to reduce seasonal power shocks.

Youth & Jobs as Security: A new African Youth Survey 2026 says 56% of young Africans want governments to prioritize job creation to improve local security, with unemployment and poverty seen as the biggest threats. Regional Trade & Customs: Fidelity Bank Ghana is urging harmonised customs systems across West Africa, warning fragmented procedures and poor data keep raising costs for traders—especially women importing via Lomé and Nigeria. Togo Business & Courts Reform: Togo’s National Assembly is set to consider bills that could reshape the business climate, including reforms to commercial courts (more digital procedures), protected areas, and recognition of foreign public documents. Natural Capital Funding for Togo: The AfDB’s African Development Fund approved about $4.23m (26bn FCFA) to integrate natural capital into development financing across 13 countries, including Togo, from Oct 2026 to Sep 2029. Lomé Youth Book Fair: The Lomé Youth Book Fair (SALIJEL) returns Oct 14–17, 2026 with 30 exhibitors and a focus on children’s books driving West African cultural cooperation. Lomé Aviation Growth: ASKY Airlines’ CEO outlines expansion momentum, including new Boeing 737 MAX 8 deliveries and a direct Lomé–Kano route launch. Koutammakou Climate Protection: Togo and Benin launched a climate-risk report for the Koutammakou World Heritage site, flagging thousands of at-risk earthen homes and calling for stronger cross-border coordination.

Togo Business & Policy: Togo’s National Assembly is set to consider bills that could reshape the business climate, including reforms to commercial courts (more digital procedures, e-rulings and videoconference hearings), protected areas (biodiversity and community rights), and recognition of foreign public documents—moves that could affect how companies operate, invest and resolve disputes. Regional Trade & Energy: West Africa is pushing toward a refined-fuel benchmark, but regulators say the next step is harder: building the infrastructure, liquidity and harmonised rules so traders can actually price against the benchmark. Cross-border Fuel Integration: Nigeria’s PENGASSAN is urging a freer flow of Dangote refinery products across Africa, arguing that removing taxes and duties at borders would boost energy security and inter-trade from Nigeria to places like Togo. Aviation & Lomé’s Hub: ASKY Airlines’ CEO says Lomé is strengthening as a regional hub, with new Boeing deliveries and route expansion including a direct Lomé–Kano link, plus plans for more international services. SME Voice in Togo: The Togolese SME/SMI Association (GTPME/PMI) highlights its leadership role in national MSME Week and ongoing advocacy for better public-private support for small businesses. Health & Industry: Do Pharma, a Togolese manufacturer of intravenous solutions, is positioning local production as a path to health sovereignty and reduced dependence on imports. Visa-Free Momentum: Chad and the Republic of the Congo announced visa-free entry for all African nationals from January 1, 2027—another step toward easier travel for business and trade across the continent.

ECOWAS Cybersecurity Push: ECOWAS trained 38 cybersecurity professionals in Lomé to strengthen incident-response capacity across West Africa, hosted by Togo’s CERT.tg under JPAC with support from Germany’s foreign office and GIZ. Togo Business & Courts Reform: Togo’s National Assembly is reviewing bills that could reshape the business climate, including reforms to commercial courts (more digital procedures, e-rulings and videoconference hearings), protected areas, and recognition of foreign public documents. Climate Risk for Heritage & Local Economy: Togo and Benin launched a report on climate risks to the Koutammakou World Heritage cultural landscape, flagging nearly 1,928 sikien at risk in Togo and 2,277 in Benin, with a push for cross-border conservation planning. Aviation & Lomé’s Hub Ambition: ASKY’s CEO Esayas Woldemariam Hailu says the Lomé-based airline is expanding routes and fleet capacity, including a new Lomé–Kano direct service and plans for further international links. Health Industry Localisation: Do Pharma’s Frédéric Dovi-Akue highlights how the Avéta plant is producing intravenous solutions to reduce import dependence and expand regional pharmaceutical supply. Regional Trade Signals from Fuel Markets: PENGASSAN is urging a freer Africa-wide trade in Dangote refinery products, arguing that removing cross-border taxes and duties could improve energy security for countries including Togo. Civil Society Space at UN: CIVICUS submitted Universal Periodic Review inputs on civic space in Togo ahead of the 54th UPR session in 2027, focusing on rights to association, assembly, expression and protections for human rights defenders.

Togo’s Business-Law Agenda: Three bills before Togo’s National Assembly could reshape the way companies operate—reforms to commercial courts (more digital procedures and e-rulings), stronger rules for protected areas (biodiversity, water, soils, and community rights), and recognition of foreign public documents. Regional Trade & Energy: West Africa’s refined fuel benchmark push is moving from planning to execution, with Nigeria stressing the need for infrastructure, liquidity, harmonised standards and reliable market data—plus calls to open Africa’s fuel market so Dangote products can flow across borders, including to Togo. Aviation & Connectivity: ASKY’s CEO Esayas Woldemariam Hailu says Lomé is strengthening its hub role as the airline adds aircraft, expands routes (including Lomé–Kano), and targets further international growth. Health & Industry: Togolese pharma firm Do Pharma, led by Frédéric Dovi-Akue, highlights local production of intravenous solutions as a step toward health sovereignty and regional supply. Climate & Heritage: Togo and Benin launched a climate-risk assessment for the Koutammakou World Heritage site, warning that thousands of traditional earthen homes are at risk and calling for tighter cross-border coordination. ECOWAS Cybersecurity: ECOWAS trained 38 cybersecurity professionals in Lomé to improve incident-response readiness across member states.

Cybersecurity for West Africa: ECOWAS trained 38 cybersecurity professionals in Lomé to certify incident-response auditors and strengthen CSIRT cooperation across borders, under JPAC with support from Germany and GIZ. Togo–Benin Climate Heritage Protection: Togo and Benin launched a cross-border assessment for the Koutammakou World Heritage site, flagging thousands of at-risk earthen “sikien” homes and pushing for a joint management approach. ECOWAS Trade & Revenue Mobilization: WATAF gathered nearly 400 participants in Abuja to modernize VAT administration using digital tools, aiming to boost sustainable domestic revenue across 16 countries. SME Leadership in Togo: GTPME/PMI president Koku Vignon ABOKI highlighted 2026 MSME Week steering work and private-sector advocacy. AfCFTA Private Sector Engagement: Cynthia Essognim GNASSINGBE-ESSONAM’s AfCFTA role focuses on linking businesses to continental opportunities and strengthening implementation through private-sector participation. Visa-Free Push in Africa: Chad and the Republic of Congo plan visa-free entry for all African nationals from Jan 1, 2027, aligning with AfCFTA free movement goals. Business & Investment Spotlight: A profile on Aliko Dangote ties industrialization and value addition to AfCFTA ambitions.

Cybersecurity for West Africa: ECOWAS trained 38 cybersecurity professionals in Lomé to build a pool of certified auditors for incident-response readiness, hosted by CERT.tg and supported via JPAC with GIZ and Germany’s foreign office. Togo’s HIV funding pressure: Togo spent CFA19.37bn on HIV in 2025, with partners covering 86.44%; as international support declines, the country is preparing a CFA56bn request for the 2027-2029 Global Fund cycle. Local policy delivery push in Togo: Governors and prefects met in Blitta to set second-half 2026 priorities, targeting better coordination, decentralization support, territorial management, and stronger public order. VAT modernization across West Africa: WATAF convened nearly 400 participants in Abuja to advance digital VAT administration and boost domestic revenue mobilization. Visa-free momentum in Africa: Chad and the Republic of Congo plan visa-free entry for all Africans from Jan 1, 2027, joining Togo and others moving toward freer movement. Maritime security concern: Liberia faces a wake-up call after the IB Atlantic IV was arrested in Ivory Coast, highlighting gaps in maritime monitoring and regional enforcement.

US Visa Hub Clarification: The U.S. Mission in Nigeria says the shift of routine visa processing to a regional hub won’t close or disrupt the Abuja embassy’s operations, effective August 1, 2026. Regional Mobility Push: Chad announced visa-free entry for citizens of all African countries from January 1, 2027, joining a growing list that includes Togo. Togo Health Funding Pressure: Togo spent CFA19.37bn on HIV programs in 2025, with international partners covering 86.44%; as support declines, Togo is preparing a CFA56bn funding request for the 2027-2029 Global Fund cycle. Local Governance Priorities: Togo’s governors and prefects set second-half 2026 priorities to improve policy delivery, focusing on coordination, decentralization, territorial management and security. VAT Digital Reform: WATAF convened nearly 400 participants across 16 countries to advance digital VAT administration and boost domestic revenue mobilization in West Africa. Maritime Security Shock (Liberia): The IB Atlantic IV, once a “ghost ship” in Liberia’s orbit, was arrested in Ivory Coast; Liberia now seeks to bring the vessel home, raising questions about maritime monitoring capacity. Natural Capital Financing (ADF): The AfDB’s African Development Fund approved a $4.23m grant to integrate natural capital into development financing across 13 countries, including Togo.

Togo’s HIV funding squeeze: Togo spent CFA19.37bn ($33.8m) on HIV programs in 2025, with international partners covering 86.44%—and as support declines, the country is preparing a CFA56bn request to the Global Fund for 2027-2029 to keep HIV, TB and malaria services on track. Local delivery push: Togo’s governors and prefects met in Blitta to set second-half 2026 priorities, focusing on better coordination, harmonized administration, territorial management, and tackling administrative, financial, security and decentralization gaps. Regional integration via borders: Chad announced visa-free entry for citizens of all African countries from Jan. 1, 2027, joining Togo and other movers toward easier cross-border travel for business and people. West Africa VAT modernization: WATAF gathered nearly 400 participants from 16 countries to advance digital VAT reform and strengthen domestic revenue mobilization, a key theme for regional trade and fiscal stability. Natural capital finance boost: The AfDB’s African Development Fund approved a $4.23m grant to integrate natural capital into development financing across 13 countries, including Togo, running from Oct. 2026 to Sept. 2029. Maritime security spotlight: Liberia’s IB Atlantic IV case escalated as the vessel was arrested in Ivory Coast and Liberia seeks to bring it home—raising concerns for regional maritime monitoring and trade security.

Visa-Free Push in Africa: Chad announced that all African nationals will enter visa-free from January 1, 2027, joining a growing club that already includes Benin, Gambia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Ghana, Kenya and Togo—an easy win for regional business travel and cross-border trade. Togo’s HIV Funding Pressure: Togo spent CFA19.37bn on HIV in 2025, with partners covering 86.44%; as international support declines, the country is preparing a CFA56bn Global Fund request for 2027–2029. Local Policy Delivery: Togo’s governors and prefects set second-half 2026 priorities to fix gaps in decentralised public policy implementation, focusing on coordination, territorial management and security. Digital VAT Reform: West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) gathered nearly 400 participants across 16 countries to modernise VAT administration using digital tools to boost domestic revenue. Regional Shipping for Trade: MSC’s new weekly feeder service will route cargo via Lomé to Nigeria’s Lekki Port, improving shipping reliability and giving exporters more predictable access to global markets. Energy Resilience Lesson: Malawi’s grid-scale lithium battery system is helping stabilise solar power after hydropower losses—an example of how climate-exposed economies can modernise electricity faster.

VAT Modernisation: WATAF brought nearly 400 participants from 16 countries to push digital VAT reform across West Africa, aiming to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation. HIV Funding Pressure: Togo spent CFA19.37bn on HIV in 2025, with partners covering 86.44%; as international support declines, Togo is preparing a CFA56bn Global Fund request for 2027-2029. Local Policy Delivery: Togo’s governors and prefects set second-half 2026 priorities to improve how public policies land on the ground, tackling administrative, financial, security and decentralisation gaps. Regional Water Investment: At the African Water Forum, countries including Togo launched Water Compacts to shift water policy toward investable pipelines for public and private finance. Cross-Border Movement Debate: A new look at Africa’s free-movement push shows strong public support for border openness, but persistent visa barriers and job-protection concerns. Port Connectivity for Trade: MSC’s weekly feeder service links Lomé to Nigeria’s Lekki Port, promising more predictable shipping routes for importers and exporters. Youth & Business Climate: An African Youth Survey 2026 finds Togolese youth rate international partners highly and rank entrepreneurship as a top development priority.