AGP Executive Report

Togo in the spotlight: Lomé will host the African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 (15–19 June), with AFCAC unveiling speakers and priorities for Africa’s aviation integration. Right to information: Transparency International research highlights that Liberia, Ghana, Togo and Sierra Leone have RTI laws, but access still hits major implementation gaps for journalists and citizens. Arts & culture abroad with Togo links: A new edition of “Plantation” by Rehana Zaman lands at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall, using two 2026 films on precarious farm labour and the politics of empire. Local arts/industry momentum: Fest’Immo SolarDayZ 2026 in Lomé drew nearly 5,000 visitors, while ATD-backed incubation helped nine Togolese edtech startups prepare for eLearning Africa. Sports on the calendar: World Cup friendlies include Togo vs Central African Republic, and the U.S. visa-processing hubs list keeps Lomé in the mix.

Maritime & Climate Finance: Ghana’s UK-backed £215m Growth Partnership could turn Takoradi into West Africa’s first commercial-scale dry-docking hub, with added funding for reforestation, AI implementation, and specialist clinical engineering training. Arts & Culture Under Pressure: A new reflection on Johannesburg’s gallery closures and cultural censorship questions what happens when city art institutions shrink and artists lose safe spaces to experiment. Open Access to Information: Transparency International launches a Right to Information research report covering Liberia, Ghana, Togo, and Sierra Leone, flagging strong laws but real-world access gaps for journalists and citizens. Togo’s Tech Push: ATD-backed incubation helps nine Togolese edtech startups prepare for eLearning Africa after training in content design, AI in education, accessibility, and growth strategy. EV Mobility in Togo: Spiro raises $215m equity to expand battery-swapping and EV infrastructure across seven markets including Togo, aiming to cut fuel dependence and speed up urban transport. Visa Processing Shock: The US plans to cut Africa visa-processing hubs from nearly 50 to 20, with Lomé listed among the remaining hubs. Sports & Youth: Togo’s Fest’Immo SolarDayZ 2026 drew nearly 5,000 visitors, while a junior tennis tour lists Togo among participating countries for the Abuja event.

Right to Information in West Africa: Transparency International launched a new report on access-to-information laws in Liberia, Ghana, Togo and Sierra Leone, praising strong legal frameworks while flagging real-world gaps for journalists, citizens and civil society. Togo’s EdTech push: ATD incubated nine Togolese edtech startups, with training in Vienna and Lomé, and plans for eLearning Africa in Accra to target international markets. Fest’Immo SolarDayZ: Lomé’s Real Estate and Energy Fair wrapped up with nearly 5,000 visitors and about 60 exhibitors, focusing on affordable, sustainable housing and the energy transition. EV investment with local reach: Spiro secured $215M to expand battery-swapping and EV infrastructure across seven markets including Togo, aiming to scale manufacturing and new stations. US visa processing shake-up (Lomé included): The State Department plans to cut Africa visa-processing posts from nearly 50 to 20 hubs, keeping Lomé among the designated locations. Culture diplomacy: Togo’s culture ministry discussed a possible “Russian House” in Lomé to boost Russian-language learning and arts exchanges. Sports & entertainment tie-ins: NJPW revealed Best of the Super Juniors semifinals; and Ghana’s Marvin Senaya made the 2026 World Cup squad, choosing Ghana over Togo.

Fest’Immo SolarDayZ 2026: Lomé’s Real Estate and Energy Fair wrapped up May 31 with nearly 5,000 visitors, about 60 exhibitors, and a focus on “Rethinking Housing in Togo” and the energy transition. EdTech Push: Togo’s Agence Togo Digital (ATD) backed nine incubated edtech startups to target international markets, with training in Vienna and plans to showcase at eLearning Africa in Accra. EV Infrastructure Investment: Spiro secured $215M in equity to expand its battery-swapping network across seven countries already including Togo, aiming to scale manufacturing, tech development, and new market entry. World Cup Spotlight: Ghana right-back Marvin Senaya says he’s proud to represent Ghana at the 2026 World Cup, while coverage also highlights major World Cup underdog upsets. Culture & Learning Exchange: Togo’s Minister of Culture and Tourism discussed a possible “Russian House” in Togo to boost Russian-language learning and arts education links. Music Calendar (Arlington): A free summer concert series at Lubber Run Amphitheater runs June 6–Aug 2, with local and international acts. Sports (Tennis): Togo is among 14 countries set for Nigeria’s 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 junior tennis championship in Abuja (June 2–13). Policy Watch: The U.S. plans to cut visa-processing embassies/consulates in Africa from nearly 50 to 20 hubs, including Lomé.

EV & Energy Infrastructure: Spiro just raised $215M in equity to expand its electric mobility and battery-swapping network across Africa, with operations already in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon and plans to push into new markets like DRC and Ethiopia. Arts & Live Music: The free Lubber Run Summer Concert series returns this weekend at Lubber Run Amphitheater, running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 2 with local groups and major acts plus tribute performances. Tech & Women in Innovation: A feature spotlights “Tech Sisters,” connecting, coding and creating across the Ivorian tech ecosystem. Togo Cultural Diplomacy: Togo’s Minister of Culture and Tourism says a “Russian House” could be set up in Lomé to boost Russian-language teaching and arts exchanges. Sports (Regional Interest): The Black Maidens qualify for the final U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier round against Senegal after an 8-0 aggregate win over Liberia. Visa Policy (Africa/US): The US plans to cut visa-processing embassies and consulates in Africa from nearly 50 to 20 hubs, including Lomé, Togo.

US Visa Policy: The U.S. State Department plans to cut visa-processing embassies and consulates across Africa from nearly 50 to just 20 “hubs,” with changes expected in June—Lomé is listed among the remaining sites. Clean Mobility & Energy: Spiro secured a landmark $215M investment round to expand its electric motorcycle battery-swapping network and EV infrastructure across African cities, including Togo. Tennis (Junior): Nigeria’s Tennis Federation says 15 countries—including Togo—will take part in the 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 World Tennis Tour Junior Championship in Abuja (June 2–13). Football (Ghana): Asamoah Gyan reacted to Caleb Yirenkyi’s debut goal for Ghana in the iconic number 3 shirt, linking it to the jersey’s legacy. Culture (Togo-Russia): Togo may host a “Russian House” to boost Russian-language learning and arts education exchanges. Sports (Women’s U-17): Ghana’s Black Maidens advanced to face Senegal after an 8-0 aggregate win over Liberia, having also swept Togo 8-0 earlier.

US Visa Policy: The U.S. plans to cut Africa visa-processing “hubs” from nearly 50 to 20, with Lomé (Togo) listed among the remaining sites—expected to take effect in June. Tennis (Togo in focus): Togo is among 14 countries confirmed for the 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 World Tennis Championship in Abuja (June 2–13), a key step for players aged 13–18. Sports (regional): Ghana’s Black Maidens booked the final U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Senegal after crushing Liberia 8–0 on aggregate; they also beat Togo 8–0 earlier. Culture & education: Togo may host a “Russian House” to expand Russian-language teaching and cultural exchanges, including music, literature, cinema, and museum cooperation. AI & work: The UN’s ILO says AI gains must be shared fairly with workers via better wages and protections.

Lomé–Russia Cultural Push: Togo’s Minister of Culture and Tourism says a “Russian House” could soon open in Lomé to boost Russian-language teaching and arts exchanges, including music, literature and cinema. Visa Access Shock (Lomé on the List): The U.S. plans to cut Africa visa-processing sites from nearly 50 to 20 “hubs,” with Lomé named among the remaining locations—an abrupt change that could affect travel plans for many. AI at Work: The UN’s labour agency (ILO) urges that AI gains be shared fairly through better wages, stronger protections and inclusive growth. Tennis for Youth: Togo is among 14 countries set for the 2026 NASCO/ITF J30 junior tennis championship in Abuja (June 2–13). Para Swimming Revival: A coach in Fiji says she’s working to restart para swimming and build an inclusive club. Local Culture in Focus: A “Made in Togo” permanent mall model in Lomé is drawing interest from Ghana as a way to make local buying easier year-round. Sports (Women’s U-17): Togo’s rivals, Ghana’s Black Maidens, advance after beating Liberia and will face Senegal next.

Wildlife Crime: Golden lion tamarins from Brazil are being smuggled via forged documents and international routes, with seizures reported in Togo, Suriname and the Amazon—raising fears for the endangered primate’s survival. Football (Youth): Togo’s Black Maidens stormed into the final FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, beating Liberia 2-0 in Monrovia for an 8-0 aggregate and now set to face Senegal in July. Press Freedom: A new Afrobarometer Pan-Africa Profile finds Africans back media freedom and the right to organise, but perceived freedom of speech is shrinking—Togo is among the lowest scores. Local Trade & Culture: Sokodé hosts a “Made in Togo” fair to boost locally made goods and spotlight Togolese makers beyond Lomé. Digital Sovereignty: SIN and ST DIGITAL sign a deal to launch private cloud services at the Lomé Data Centre, aiming to keep more data and AI processing in-country. Diplomacy & Education: Togo’s foreign minister Robert Dussey urges a more balanced view of Africa and points to South Korea’s education-led development path.

Local Commerce: Sokodé hosts the regional edition of the “Made in Togo” fair (May 26–28), spotlighting crafts, textiles, gastronomy, agri-food, natural cosmetics and tech, with organizers aiming to boost local sales and partnerships beyond Lomé. Digital Sovereignty: Togo’s SIN and ST DIGITAL sign a deal to launch private cloud services at the Lomé Data Centre, promising more secure local hosting, AI and cloud support for businesses, and training to grow local expertise. Sports (Youth Football): Togo’s U-17 women’s rivals, Ghana’s “Black Maidens,” qualify for the final round after a dominant run that included an 8-0 aggregate win over Togo; they now face Senegal in July. Press Freedom: Afrobarometer reports that while many Africans back media freedom, perceived freedom of speech is shrinking, with Togo among the lowest for “completely” free expression. Arts & Culture (Architecture): The Pan-African Biennale announces participants for its inaugural 2026 edition in Nairobi (Sept 7–11), focusing on African spatial practices. Energy & Policy (Togo): An op-ed warns Togo’s fuel price subsidy is being stretched as Brent stays high, raising the question of how long support can last.

Togo Mall Spotlight: Lomé’s permanent “Made in Togo” Local Goods Mall, launched in Nov 2023, is drawing attention in Ghana as a model to move buy-local campaigns from scattered pop-ups into a steady destination for food, fashion, crafts and more. Digital Sovereignty: SIN and ST DIGITAL have signed a partnership to launch private cloud services at the Lomé Data Centre, aiming to host and process local data in Togo and grow homegrown AI and cloud skills. Regional Arts & Commerce: Sokodé hosted a regional edition of the “Made in Togo” fair (May 26–28), bringing together artisans and makers in crafts, textiles, gastronomy, cosmetics and tech. Press Freedom Watch: Afrobarometer reports that while Africans back media freedom, perceived freedom of speech is shrinking—Togo is listed among countries with low “complete” freedom scores. Sports Youth: Togo’s football scene gets a boost as the Black Maidens (U-17 women) advance after a dominant qualifying run, setting up a final tie with Senegal.

Togolese Digital Push: SIN and ST DIGITAL have signed a partnership to launch private cloud services at the Lomé Data Centre, aiming to boost Togo’s digital sovereignty, host local data in-country, and offer cloud/AI at competitive prices. Local Trade & Creativity: Sokodé hosted a regional edition of the “Made in Togo” fair (May 26–28), bringing together crafts, textiles, food, cosmetics and tech to spotlight local producers and decentralize business beyond Lomé. Press Freedom Reality Check: Afrobarometer reports Africans strongly back media freedom and the right to organise, but perceived freedom of speech is shrinking—Togo is listed among the lowest scores. Energy & Policy Pressure: A Togo op-ed warns fuel price subsidies are being stretched as Brent stays high, raising the question of how long the government can hold prices. Diplomacy & Mapping Africa: Togo’s foreign minister Robert Dussey urged a more balanced view of Africa, linking it to South Korea’s development path and the AU “Correct the Map” campaign. Arts & Culture Spotlight: The Pan-African Biennale announced participants for its inaugural 2026 architecture edition in Nairobi (Sept 7–11), themed “Shifting the Center: From Fragility to Resilience.”

Togo Digital Sovereignty: SIN and ST DIGITAL have signed a partnership to launch private cloud services at the Lomé Data Centre, aiming to host and process local company data in Togo, cut reliance on foreign infrastructure, and grow local AI and software skills. Made in Togo Spotlight: Sokodé hosted a regional edition of the “Made in Togo” fair (May 26–28), bringing together crafts, textiles, food, cosmetics and tech to boost local entrepreneurship and value addition beyond Lomé. Press Freedom Reality Check: Afrobarometer’s Pan-Africa Profile finds strong public support for media freedom and free speech rights, but perceived freedom is shrinking—Togo is among the lowest for “completely” free speech. Arts & Culture (Design): A feature looks at how Togolese batik patterns are being reimagined in modern fashion, interior decor and graphic design. Global Arts/Heritage: Senegal’s ancient iron-making tradition is highlighted through new research on a 2,000-year-old technique.

Togo Digital Sovereignty: SIN and ST DIGITAL signed a deal to launch private cloud services at the Lomé Data Centre, aiming to host and process local data in Togo, cut reliance on foreign infrastructure, and expand AI and cloud training for local firms. Culture & Trade: Sokodé hosted a regional edition of the “Made in Togo” fair (May 26–28), spotlighting Togolese crafts, textiles, agri-food, cosmetics and tech to boost local entrepreneurship and jobs beyond Lomé. Arts & Heritage: A Senegal study revisits how iron was produced 2,000 years ago in the Falémé Valley, tracing long-running blacksmithing traditions and the transfer of technical knowledge. Civic Space Watch: An Afrobarometer survey says perceived media freedom is shrinking across Africa; Togo is among the lowest performers on freedom of speech. Tech in Everyday Life: Microsoft data puts generative AI use in Togo at 10.1% of adults (Q1 2026), with adoption rising alongside smartphone and mobile internet access.

Digital Sovereignty: Togo’s SIN and ST DIGITAL have signed a partnership to launch private cloud services at the Lomé Data Centre, aiming to host and process local data in-country and cut reliance on foreign infrastructure. Local Trade & Culture: Sokodé hosted a regional edition of the “Made in Togo” fair (May 26–28), spotlighting Togolese crafts, textiles, agri-food, natural cosmetics and tech, with a push to decentralize commerce beyond Lomé. Tech & Youth: Microsoft’s latest report puts Togo’s generative AI use at 10.1% in Q1 2026, placing it in Africa’s mid-tier as adoption rises with wider smartphone and mobile internet access. Civic Space Watch: A new Afrobarometer survey finds Africans still back media freedom, but perceived freedom of speech is slipping; Togo is cited among the lower scores. Heritage Spotlight: A study on Senegal’s 2,000-year-old iron production sheds light on ancient blacksmithing knowledge passed down for centuries. Power Update (Lomé region): Scheduled maintenance is set to trigger electricity interruptions in parts of Bishkek on May 29.

Togolese Culture in Design: Togolese batik patterns are stepping beyond traditional textiles, showing up in fashion, interior décor (curtains, cushions, wall hangings), and even graphic design—bold colors and geometric motifs are driving a modern “heritage meets style” trend. Digital Growth in Lomé: Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion report puts Togo’s generative AI use at 10.1% of people aged 15–64 in Q1 2026, placing the country in Africa’s middle tier as smartphone access and content-creation interest rise. Sports Spotlight: The 31st International Cycling Tour of Togo ends in Lomé with Belgian rider Heylen Wannes winning the yellow jersey after 399 km across four stages. Arts & Society: A story on infertility stigma highlights Ghanaian gender advocate Emelia Naa Ayeley Aryee’s work with couples across the region, including Togo. Health Update: Missionary doctor Peter Stafford, previously linked to Togo, is in stable recovery after contracting Ebola in the DRC.