AGP Executive Report

Press Freedom in Togo: Reporters Without Borders is urging Togolese authorities to drop charges and release two French documentary filmmakers, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, plus their Togolese fixer, Komi Mawufemo Vedomey, after 26 days in detention in Lomé following arrests in northern Togo while filming. Immigration & Mobility: A US federal judge in Manhattan blocked Trump’s immigrant visa suspension affecting Nigeria and 74 other countries, calling the policy “patently unlawful” and beyond the State Department’s authority—an outcome that also spared several African states including Togo. Culture & Heritage: Germany reported the loss of 1,077 architectural monuments in 2024–2025, with activists warning that cultural memory is disappearing faster than the public notices. Sports (Women’s Football): Nigeria’s Edo Queens arrived in Ouagadougou for the WAFU-B Women’s Champions League qualifiers, drawn against strong regional opponents as they chase a CAF ticket.

Press Freedom in Togo: Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists are urging Togolese authorities to drop charges and release two French documentary filmmakers, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, plus their Togolese fixer, Komi Mawufemo Vedomey, detained since July 27 in northern Togo while filming; one was provisionally released for medical reasons but with passport confiscation, as rights groups call the process excessive. Women’s Football: Nigeria’s Edo Queens arrived in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, for the WAFU-B Women’s Champions League qualifiers, drawn in Group B with ASEC Mimosas, Ampem Darkoa and AS Garde Nationale, with assistant coach Gabriel Benson saying the team is ready to fight for the ticket. Culture & Craft: Agortime-Ziope communities marked the 31st Agortime Kente Festival with renewed calls to preserve traditional weaving and protect youth livelihoods from rising costs and cheap imitations. Regional Movement: ECOWAS stakeholder talks at the Ghana–Togo border push for sustained public education and better implementation of the free movement protocol to boost cross-border trade. Lifestyle/Family Fun: Gulliver’s World in the UK plans a superhero-themed summer finale with extended hours and fireworks on Sept. 5.

Press Freedom in Togo: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is demanding the release of two French documentary filmmakers, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, plus their Togolese fixer, Komi Mawufemo Vedomey, after they were detained in Togo for weeks on “false declarations” tied to immigration procedures; RSF says they were filming with permits and calls the process excessive, while one filmmaker was provisionally released for medical reasons but with passport restrictions. Regional Sports & Women’s Football: Nigeria’s NWFL champions Edo Queens have arrived in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to prepare for the WAFU-B Women’s Champions League qualifiers (Aug 23–Sep 5), with interim coach Kennedy Boboye taking charge as the team chases a CAF Champions League ticket. Culture & Craft: Agortime communities marked the 31st Agortime Kente Festival with renewed calls to preserve traditional weaving, protect authentic designs from cheap imitations, and invest in youth jobs through the craft. Cross-Border Trade Talk: ECOWAS stakeholders met at the Ghana–Togo border to push better implementation of the free movement protocol, urging sustained public education so border communities and traders can benefit.

Press Freedom & Detention: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is demanding the release of two French documentary filmmakers, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, and their Togolese fixer, Fred Vedomey, jailed in Togo since July 27 on “false declarations” charges tied to immigration paperwork, as RSF says they had permits and were simply filming for France 5. Regional Diplomacy & Media Tensions: The case adds pressure to already strained Lomé–French media relations, after Togo suspended French outlets Radio France Internationale and France 24 earlier this year. Agriculture & Trade Monitoring: Togo has published results from the first phase of the SCORECARD under the West Africa Food System Resilience Program, reviewing agricultural trade and market indicators with support from Akademiya 2063 and World Bank financing. Culture & Heritage: Ghana’s Agortime Kente Festival in the Volta region renewed calls to preserve traditional Kente weaving, protect authentic craft from cheap imitations, and support youth livelihoods. Sports (Women’s Football): WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers set Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa against tough regional rivals, with Burkina Faso hosting the tournament from Aug. 23 to Sept. 5.

Press Freedom Under Pressure (Togo): Reporters Without Borders is demanding the release of two French documentary filmmakers, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, plus their Togolese fixer, Fred Vedomey, detained in Togo since July 27 in Kara and later charged with “false declarations” over immigration procedures. Cartography & Representation: Activists backed by the African Union are pushing for more accurate world maps after repeated Western mislabeling that shrinks Africa’s perceived size. Court Update (Accra): An Accra court remanded a 49-year-old man over an alleged Labone bank robbery attempt, with prosecutors saying the group also operated in Togo and Côte d’Ivoire. Culture & Design: Studio NEiDA, working between Togo and Germany, explores how architecture can hold memories and identities across cultures. Agriculture & Food Resilience (Togo): Togo published results from the first SCORECARD phase under the West Africa Food System Resilience Program, highlighting progress and weak indicators, with women forming 34% of beneficiaries. Sports (Regional Women’s Football): WAFU B qualifiers set Edo Queens against tough rivals, including ASEC Mimosas and Ampem Darkoa, as the tournament heads to Burkina Faso.

Press Freedom in Focus: Togo has detained two French journalists, Gaël Mocaër and Sebastian Perez Pezzani, plus their Togolese fixer, Fred Venum, after arrests near Kara while filming for France 5—prompting Reporters Without Borders to demand their release. Regional Trade & Women’s Business: Fidelity Bank Ghana urged harmonised customs systems and stronger stakeholder support to help traders and women-led enterprises, warning that poor data and fragmented procedures keep costs high and delays long for cross-border commerce, including routes involving Togo. Food & Farming Resilience: Togo published first results from the SCORECARD under the West Africa Food System Resilience Program, reviewing agricultural trade and market indicators with government, private sector and civil society, including progress and gaps for future editions. Culture & Craft Preservation: Agortime communities marked the 31st Agortime Kente Festival with renewed calls to protect traditional weaving and invest in the craft so youth can earn sustainably. Sports (Women’s Football): Edo Queens were drawn into a tough Group B for the WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers, facing ASEC Mimosas, Ampem Darkoa and AS Garde Nationale. Mental Health Access: UNK-linked counselling initiatives highlight free, confidential support delivered through student practicum programs, aiming to reduce barriers to care.

Togolese Food Resilience: Togo has published results from the first SCORECARD phase under the West Africa Food System Resilience Program, reviewing trade and farm-market indicators with government, private sector and civil society in Tsévié; the wider program has already reached 500,000+ beneficiaries, with women making up 34%. ECOWAS Border Life: Ketu North’s MCE Reverend Martin Amenaki praised ECOWAS stakeholder talks at the Akanu-Noepe border, urging sustained public education so people understand their rights under the free movement protocol. Culture & Craft: Agortime communities marked the 31st Kente Festival with calls to preserve authentic weaving and invest in youth jobs, warning that rising costs and cheap imitations threaten the craft. Sports (Regional Women’s Football): WAFU B qualifiers set up tough groups for Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa and Nigeria’s Edo Queens, with Togo’s ASKO named in Group A. Architecture & Identity: Studio NEiDA highlights how culture can be translated into space, working across Togo and Germany.

Cultural Heritage & Youth Jobs: Agortime communities mark the 31st Agortime Kente Festival with fresh calls to preserve traditional weaving, protect authenticity from cheaper imitations, and back youth with sustainable livelihoods. Regional Integration & Border Life: ECOWAS stakeholders meet at the Ghana–Togo border to push smoother free movement and trade, with local leaders urging sustained public education so border communities understand their rights and responsibilities. Food Systems & Agriculture: Togo publishes first SCORECARD results under the West Africa Food System Resilience Program, reviewing trade and market indicators and noting progress plus gaps to fix in future editions. Arts & Design: Accra Technical University fashion students showcase “Wear Your Culture: Tradition Meets Modernity,” blending African fabrics with modern designs and pitching fashion as a viable business path. Sports (Women’s Football): WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers deliver tough draws for Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa, while Togo’s ASKO lands in Group A as the tournament serves as a route to CAF Women’s Champions League. Community Wellbeing: UNK graduate students (including a Togolese-born counselor) expand access to free, confidential mental health support through practicum placements.

WAFU B Women’s Champions League: Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa and Nigeria’s Edo Queens were handed tough Group B draws, facing ASEC Mimosas, AS Garde Nationale and each other as the qualifiers run in Burkina Faso from Aug. 23 to Sept. 5. ECOWAS Cross-Border Life: Ketu North’s Rev. Martin Amenaki praised ECOWAS stakeholder talks at the Ghana–Togo border, urging sustained public education so border communities understand their rights under the free movement protocol. Agriculture & Food Resilience: Togo published first SCORECARD results under the West Africa Food System Resilience Program, reviewing trade and market indicators with women making up 34% of beneficiaries. Culture & Design: Togolese-German Studio NEiDA explores how culture can be translated into space, while Accra’s ATU fashion students showcased “Wear Your Culture: Tradition Meets Modernity.” Sports Officiating: Togo’s Vincentia Enyonam Amedome is named fourth official for the WAfCON 2026 final in Rabat. Regional Travel Ease: A guide highlights how visa changes across West Africa are making multi-country trips simpler for African travelers.

Maritime Security: A 159,000-dwt tanker, Skiros, was hit on the bridge off Novorossiysk by a suspected drone, with no crew injuries reported—raising fresh concerns about Black Sea freedom of navigation. Regional Tourism & Integration: ECOWAS convened COPITOUR stakeholders in Abuja to strengthen West African tourism as a tool for peace, jobs, and investment, with Togo among participating countries. Togo Food Resilience: Togo reviewed the first SCORECARD results under the West Africa Food System Resilience Program, focusing on weak indicators and how to improve agricultural trade and market performance. Mental Health Access: UNK highlights free counseling services offered by graduate students to community members, aiming to close gaps in affordable mental health care. Culture & Design: Studio NEiDA explores how culture can be translated into space, working between Togo and Germany to design places that hold memories and knowledge. Border Life & Free Movement: ECOWAS engaged border communities at Noépé-Akanu to reduce delays and improve services for people and goods moving along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor. Fashion & Heritage: ATU fashion students showcased African fabrics through modern designs, urging youth to see fashion as a real business path.

Food Security & Trade: Togo has published the first SCORECARD results under the West Africa Food System Resilience Program, reviewing agricultural trade and market indicators with government, private sector and civil society in Tsévié, while highlighting progress and gaps for future editions. Mental Health Access: UNK’s community counseling push is gaining momentum through a free clinical practicum model, giving residents confidential support while training future counselors. Regional Integration at Borders: ECOWAS is stepping up dialogue with border communities at Noépé-Akanu (Togo–Ghana) to cut delays and improve movement of people and goods along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, with special focus on traders and women. Culture & Food Industry: Lomé’s Festival La Marmite (FESMA) opened in style, spotlighting local gastronomy and food innovation across the value chain, with China as guest of honor. Diplomacy: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, promising closer engagement across government, business, academia and culture. Sports & Women’s Football: Togo’s Vincentia Enyonam is named fourth official for the WAfCON 2026 final in Morocco, as CAF confirms the officiating team.

ECOWAS Border Talks: ECOWAS Commission held a regional dialogue at the Noépé-Akanu joint border post (Togo–Ghana) to cut delays and improve services along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, with focus on free movement, women traders’ concerns, and tools like biometric IDs and joint border posts. Cultural Heritage in Motion: Agortime communities marked the 31st Kente Festival with calls to protect authentic weaving while creating youth jobs, as fashion students at Accra Technical University showcased African fabrics through modern designs. Women’s Safety Alarm: Mohila Parishad says women and children are not fully safe anywhere, citing 1,667 victims of violence (including 292 rape cases) in the first seven months. Sports & Representation: WAfCON Morocco 2026 final officials were named, with Togo’s Vincentia Enyonam as fourth official and VAR support from across Africa. Diplomacy & Careers: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, while Togolese bloggers shared their Russia trip and career tips. Trade & Skills: IOM-DHL Ubuntu Academy trained 23 migrant returnees in logistics to support reintegration and livelihoods.

Culture & Heritage: Agortime in Volta Region marked its 31st Kente Festival, urging protection of authentic weaving and new, sustainable jobs for youth as cheaper imitations squeeze artisans. Youth & Fashion: Accra Technical University fashion students showcased “Wear Your Culture: Tradition Meets Modernity,” blending African fabrics with modern designs and pushing fashion as a viable business path. Regional Trade & Safety: ECOWAS held border talks at Noépé-Akanu to cut delays and improve services along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, with calls for better public education on free movement rights and responsibilities. Women’s Safety: Mohila Parishad says women and children are still not safe anywhere in the country, citing reported violence figures and urging coordinated action from government and citizens. Food & Local Industry: Lomé’s Festival La Marmite (FESMA) opened with a focus on local products, gastronomy and food innovation, with a culinary competition and projects pitched to experts. Diplomacy: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, promising closer engagement across culture, business and civil society. Sports (Women’s Football): WAfCON Morocco 2026 final officials were named, including Togo’s Vincentia Enyonam as fourth official.

ECOWAS Border Talks: ECOWAS Commission held a regional dialogue at the Noépé-Akanu joint border post (Togo–Ghana) to cut delays on the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, tackle harassment and gender-based violence, and push tools like biometric IDs and joint border posts. Community Voices: Ketu North’s MCE Rev. Martin Amenaki urged sustained public education so border communities understand their rights under the free movement protocol. Food & Culture in Lomé: Festival La Marmite (FESMA) opened in Lomé (Aug. 12–16) with about 100 exhibitors, a culinary competition, and a food-industry innovation contest, with China as guest of honor. Asogli Te Za Launch: The 2026 yam festival kicked off in Ho with cultural performances, youth and entrepreneurship activities, and a grand durbar planned for Oct. 3. Sports & Women’s Football: Cameroon’s goalkeeper Michaely Bihina starred as the Indomitable Lionesses reached the WAFCON final, where they’ll face Malawi, with Egyptian referee Shahinda Al-Maghrabi set to officiate. Diplomacy: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo. Regional Security: Ghana police intercepted 118 cocoa bags allegedly headed for Togo and arrested four suspects. Books & Youth: Lomé Youth Book Fair (SALIJEL) is set for Oct. 14–17, aiming to strengthen West African cultural ties through children’s books.

ECOWAS Border Talks: ECOWAS held a regional dialogue at the Noépé-Akanu border to cut delays on the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, with officials and women traders pushing for smoother free movement and better administrative services. Local Governance: Ketu North’s MCE Rev. Martin Amenaki urged ECOWAS to keep engaging border communities and to intensify public education so people understand their rights and responsibilities under the protocol. Diplomacy: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, promising closer engagement across government, business, academia, civil society and culture. Culture & Food: Lomé’s Festival La Marmite (FESMA) opened August 12, spotlighting local gastronomy and food innovation with a culinary competition and a food-industry projects showcase. Heritage & Community: Ho launched the 2026 Asogli Te Za yam festival, themed “United in purpose,” featuring youth empowerment, forums, and a grand durbar in October. Books & Youth: The Lomé Youth Book Fair (SALIJEL) returns October 14–17 with workshops and professional meetings aimed at strengthening West African cultural ties through children’s books. Sports for All: Lomé hosted Physical Culture Day competitions under the GTO program, with chess, football, cycling, karate and judo taking center stage. Trade & Women Entrepreneurs: Fidelity Bank Ghana called for harmonised customs systems to reduce bureaucracy and costs for traders—especially women—so regional commerce can move faster.

ECOWAS Border Talks: The ECOWAS Commission held a regional dialogue at the Noépé-Akanu border to cut delays on the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, tackling issues like harassment, limited information and slow admin services, with women traders flagged as especially affected. Local Voices on Free Movement: Ketu North’s MCE, Rev. Martin Amenaki, urged ECOWAS to keep sensitising border communities so people understand their rights under the free movement protocol. Diplomacy & Culture Links: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, promising closer engagement across government, business, academia and culture. Human Rights Leadership: Dr Jim Chimezie Okolo was confirmed as West African regional director for Inter-Governmental Affairs at IHRPS, pledging stronger human rights and peacebuilding across borders. Food & Innovation in Lomé: FESMA opened in Lomé on Aug. 12, spotlighting local gastronomy and food industry innovation, with China as guest of honour. Books for Youth: The Lomé Youth Book Fair (SALIJEL) is set for Oct. 14–17, aiming to boost children’s books and West African cultural cooperation.