AGP Executive Report

Church & Community: The Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana congratulated Togo’s Église Évangélique Presbytérienne du Togo on its leadership transition, thanking outgoing Moderator Rev. Dr. Daniel Akotia Mawusi and welcoming the new 17th Moderator, Rev. Dr. Yaovi Mawunya Fidèle Nayo. Sports (Youth Football): Nigeria’s Flamingos won the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup with a perfect run, crushing Togo 4-0 in the final; captain Chidera Harmony scored twice from penalties as the team heads to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. Business & Women’s Empowerment: Ecobank (Lomé-based) announced a $2.6bn lending push by 2030 for women-led businesses and agricultural SMEs, combining credit with training and digital tools. Lifestyle & Culture (Beauty): A Togolese cosmetics founder, Gaël de Souza of Gazelle d’Afrik, shared how she’s building local natural beauty to rival imported brands. Public Safety: NDLEA reports a newlywed arrested at Enugu airport after allegedly ingesting 72 wraps of cocaine bound for Portugal.

Youth & Peace Skills: JA Africa and Z Zurich Foundation launched “Génération Équitable” to train 20,000 young people across Francophone West Africa, including Togo, with entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital skills and work-readiness—aiming to turn confidence into livelihoods and community peace by 2029. Family Planning Focus: The Ouagadougou Partnership marks 15 years of progress in Francophone West Africa, saying millions more women can now plan pregnancies, but gains remain fragile as health funding tightens—calling for stronger national leadership and sustainable financing. Drug Bust at Airports: Nigeria’s NDLEA arrested a newlywed businessman in Enugu after he allegedly ingested 72 cocaine wraps for Portugal; in the same crackdown, millions of opioid pills were seized in Lagos. Sports & Youth Pride: Nigeria’s Flamingos won the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup with a perfect five-match run, beating Togo 4-0 in the final; captain Chidera Harmony scored twice from penalties as the team looks ahead to the U-17 World Cup in Morocco. Women’s Finance: Ecobank announced a $2.6bn lending target by 2030 for women-led SMEs and agribusiness, with digital tools and training to widen access to credit.

WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup: Nigeria’s Flamingos beat Togo 4-0 in the final, winning all five matches and scoring 17 goals on the way to the title, with captain Harmony Chidi netting two penalties. Drug Trafficking Crackdown: NDLEA arrested a newlywed in Enugu after he allegedly excreted 72 cocaine wraps while wearing his wedding ring, and also seized 2.55 million opioid pills in Lagos. Ecobank for Women & Agribusiness: Lomé-headquartered Ecobank says it will mobilize $2.6bn by 2030—$2bn for women-led businesses and $600m for agricultural SMEs—boosting access via digital onboarding and guarantees. Togo’s BOAD Boost: BOAD approved CFAF 82bn for Togo, including CFAF 45bn for agricultural mechanization/irrigation and CFAF 37bn to expand Lomé petroleum storage. Culture & Business Spotlight: A Togolese cosmetics founder says local products can compete with imported brands, while AfroQuality opened a flagship Accra store to help African fashion, lifestyle and literature reach wider markets. Map & Identity: The UN adopted Togo-backed “Correct the Map,” using an equal-area projection to better reflect Africa’s size in education and tech.

Banking & Women’s Empowerment: Ecobank (Lomé-based) says it will mobilize $2.6bn by 2030 for women-led businesses and agribusiness SMEs—$2bn via its Ellevate programme and $600m for agriculture across the value chain, with digital onboarding aimed at reaching up to 1 million women micro-entrepreneurs. Agriculture & Energy in Togo: BOAD approved CFAF 82bn in new loans for Togo—CFAF 45bn for agricultural mechanization and irrigation (ProMAI) and CFAF 37bn to expand petroleum storage at Lomé’s COMPEL to strengthen regional energy security. Culture & Local Brands: In a Togo First interview, cosmetics founder Gaël de Souza (Gazelle d’Afrik) pushes Togolese natural cosmetics to compete with imported brands on quality and presentation. Pan-African Lifestyle Retail: AfroQuality opened its flagship store in Accra, featuring fashion, lifestyle and literature brands across Africa, including Piesco Memory (Togo). Youth & Advocacy: A ONE Campaign study finds young Africans are confident speaking up, but fewer know how to turn concerns into sustained advocacy—surveyed in Togo, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia. Travel & Inclusion: A report highlights how Togo’s visa-free policy for African nationals supports easier intra-African travel. World Map Debate (Education & Identity): The UN ratified Togo-backed adoption of a new equal-area world map to correct Mercator distortions, with potential knock-on effects for education and tech.

World Day of Migrants & Refugees: The Archdiocese of Toronto marks the 112th World Day with a special Mass in Pickering, spotlighting the struggles of people forced to flee and the work of refugee support committees. UN Map Correction (Togo-led): The UN General Assembly ratified a new equal-area world map to replace Mercator, backing a Togo-led push for more accurate global representation—expected to influence education and tech standards. Digital Media Regulation (Togo): Togo’s HARC begins talks with creators and platforms under its new mandate, starting with training and awareness before enforcement. Women & Agribusiness Finance (Lomé): Ecobank@40 announces a $2.6bn plan by 2030 for women-led businesses and agriculture value chains, including digital inclusion. BOAD Loans for Togo: BOAD approves CFAF 82bn for agriculture mechanization/irrigation and expanded petroleum storage at Lomé’s COMPEL. Youth Advocacy Gap (Togo included): A survey finds young Africans feel confident speaking up, but fewer know how to turn voices into sustained policy action. ECOWAS Family Planning Push: Francophone West Africa seeks stronger leadership and financing to protect family planning gains as budgets tighten. Sports (regional): Nigeria’s Flamingos keep a perfect start in the WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup, while Ghana’s Black Maidens prepare for Niger.

World Map Correction: The UN General Assembly has ratified “Correction of the Map,” backing a new equal-area world map to replace Mercator’s distortions—an effort led by Togo on behalf of African countries. The change is expected to influence education and tech standards, with 164 countries supporting and the US opposing. Youth Advocacy Gap: A new ONE Campaign survey finds nearly 9 in 10 young Africans feel confident speaking up, but only about half have taken part in advocacy—especially struggling to turn concerns into sustained action with decision-makers. Visa-Free Travel Push: Togo has removed visa requirements for all African citizens for up to 30 days, formalized in late May 2026, as the broader continent still sees rising visa barriers. Women & Agri Finance: Ecobank says it will mobilize $2.6bn by 2030 for women-led businesses and agricultural value chains, while BOAD approved CFAF 82bn for Togo’s agriculture and petroleum storage. Digital Media Regulation: Togo’s HARC has started talks with influencers and platforms under its new digital mandate, beginning with training and awareness before enforcement.

Banking & Women’s Empowerment: Ecobank says it will mobilize $2.6bn by 2030 to back women-led businesses and agribusiness across Africa, including $2bn via its Ellevate programme and $600m for the full farm-to-table value chain. Agriculture & Energy in Togo: BOAD approved CFAF 82bn in new loans for Togo—CFAF 45bn for agricultural mechanization and irrigation (ProMAI) and CFAF 37bn to expand petroleum storage at Lomé’s COMPEL. Digital Media Regulation: Togo’s HARC has started talks with influencers and platform managers under its new digital mandate, starting with training and awareness before enforcement. Education & Exams: Nigeria’s NECO released 2026 SSCE Internal results: 58.67% scored at least five credits including English and Maths, while malpractice cases fell sharply. Elections Watch: INEC says it’s making progress on its 2027 election timetable, but experts warn about funding, communication and public trust gaps. Culture & Heritage: The Equal Earth world map project gets support for implementation in Africa, with Togo backing the UN resolution.

Polio Alert for Travelers: The CDC updated its Level 2 travel advisory for 29 countries, including Germany and the UK, warning Americans to take enhanced precautions as poliovirus has been detected in humans and wastewater in the past 13 months. Youth & Finance in Focus: Ecobank announced a $2.6bn commitment by 2030 to back women-led businesses ($2.0bn via Ellevate) and agriculture SMEs ($600m), while a West African youth mobiliser, Jim Okolo, received a UN award for championing young people. Togo Digital Media Rules: Togo’s HARC started talks with creators and influencers under its new digital mandate, starting with training and awareness before enforcement. Education & Skills: Togo will deploy 101 Fab Managers to schools and CRITs after training in Lomé, aiming to boost hands-on science and prototyping. Maps, Culture, Identity: Togo-backed UN support is pushing wider use of the Equal Earth map projection to correct Mercator’s distortion of Africa’s size. Regional Security: Ghana, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo met in Accra to strengthen cross-border intelligence sharing against trafficking, smuggling and violent extremism.

Education & Exams: NECO has released the 2026 SSCE Internal results, with 58.67% of candidates scoring at least five credits including English and Mathematics, while malpractice cases dropped sharply to 1,406 (down from 3,878 in 2025). Digital Rights & Media: Togo’s HARC has started talks with content creators and influencers under its new digital media mandate, starting with training and awareness before enforcement. Culture & Learning: Togo will deploy 101 Fab Managers to science-focused schools and CRITs, trained in Lomé and set to run hands-on FabLab learning. Maps & Representation: Togo is backing the UN push to replace the Mercator map with the more accurate Equal Earth projection, aiming to correct how Africa’s size is perceived. Regional Security: Ghana, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo are meeting in Accra to strengthen cross-border intelligence sharing against trafficking and other organised crime. Sports (Youth): Nigeria’s Flamingos U-17 Girls chase a fourth straight win against hosts Côte d’Ivoire in WAFU B action.

WHO Male Contraceptives: The World Health Organization has published the first guidelines for developing new male contraceptives, outlining targets for safety, effectiveness, affordability and reversibility—moving beyond condoms and vasectomy toward pills, injections, gels or implants. Digital Media Regulation: Togo’s HARC has started talks with content creators and influencers under its new digital mandate, beginning with training and awareness before enforcement to balance free expression with rules on misinformation, privacy and hate speech. Togo’s Education Tech Push: Togo is training 101 Fab Managers for science-focused schools and CRITs, with specialized training in Lomé followed by internships to expand hands-on learning through FabLabs. Map Correction for Africa: Togo-backed UN support is accelerating the shift from the Mercator map to the more accurate Equal Earth projection, aiming to reshape how Africa’s size is taught and understood. Cross-Border Security: Ghana, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo are coordinating better intelligence sharing to fight transnational organised crime and improve border management. Sports (Regional): Ghana’s Black Maidens say they’ll stay clinical as they prepare for Niger in the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup, using the tournament as World Cup preparation.

Education & Skills: Togo is rolling out 101 Fab Managers trained in Lomé to run science-focused FabLabs and Regional Technological Innovation Centers, with internships and student project work aimed at making vocational learning more practical. TVET Reform: A separate Togo workshop sets three priorities for dual technical and vocational education—stronger private-sector partnerships, tracking graduate outcomes with InserJeune, and deeper digital transformation. Regional Diplomacy: The AU and UN endorsed Togo-led mediation in the DRC-Rwanda dispute, highlighting preventive diplomacy and support for an AU roadmap through end-2026. Health & Equity: WHO released a first framework for developing safe, reversible male contraceptives, pushing shared responsibility in family planning. Global Culture & Learning: The UN backed Togo’s “Correct the Map” push to use the Equal Earth projection, challenging Mercator’s distortions that have long made Africa look smaller. Community & Youth: AGL’s Solidarity Day will mobilize staff across Africa for Schools for Prosperity—renovations, equipment, teacher support, and more access for girls. Migration & Borders: West Africa is urged to tighten cross-border cooperation and border management to curb transnational crime and improve safe migration.

Correct the Map (UN): Togo-backed “Correct the Map” resolution got UN General Assembly endorsement (164-1) to move away from Mercator distortions that shrink Africa, a symbolic shift for how the world “sees” the continent. Tech for Schools (Togo): Togo will train 101 Fab Managers for science-focused middle/high schools and Regional Technological Innovation Centers, with internships and project-based learning in robotics, AI, 3D printing and digital fabrication. DRC Mediation (AU-UN): The AU and UN endorsed continued support for Togo-led mediation in the DRC-Rwanda-M23 dispute, under a roadmap through end-2026. TVET Jobs Focus (Togo): Togo’s vocational training priorities: stronger private-sector links, better graduate tracking via InserJeune, and digital transformation using AI. Women’s Basketball (WAFU/Qualifiers): The 2027 Women’s AfroBasket qualifiers kick off in September 2026, with zone-based battles for remaining slots. Sports (Black Maidens): Ghana’s U-17 women’s team says it will stick to its game plan against Togo, with tournament lessons feeding into World Cup preparations. Community Peace (Oti Region): Oti Peace Council sensitised Jasikan and Kadjebi Assembly Members on conflict prevention, early warning and local dialogue. Education Support (Kpando): Kpando MP launches “SMILE TO SCHOOL” to equip new SHS students with essentials like trunks, mattresses, bags and exercise books.

TVET Reform in Togo: The education ministry says it will make vocational training more job-focused by pushing stronger private-sector partnerships, tracking graduates’ employment outcomes with InserJeune, and accelerating digital transformation, as a Lomé workshop on “dual TVET in the digital age” runs through Sept. 24. Women in Transport: In Lomé, CCI-Togo launched the first “Femme Action” cohort training 10 young women for heavy truck driving, port handling equipment, and logistics, with a three-month immersion in companies. Culture & Identity: EweNor was inaugurated in Oslo, bringing together Ewe communities across Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria for music, dance, and a message of unity beyond colonial borders. Map, Power, and Representation: Togo’s “Correct the Map” push helped the UN adopt a more equal-area world map approach, challenging the long-used Mercator view that shrinks Africa on classroom maps. Sports (WAFU B): Ghana’s Black Maidens assistant coach Edna Quagraine says the team will stick to its game plan ahead of its third clash with Togo, as the tournament also feeds into U-17 World Cup preparations.

World Map & Identity: The UN adopted the “Correct the Map” resolution, backed by Togo and the African Union, pushing for equal-area projections like “Equal Earth” instead of the Mercator map that has long made Africa look smaller; the vote saw 164 in favour and only the US against. Youth & Education in Togo: In Lomé, CCI-Togo launched “Femme Action” training for 10 young women in heavy truck driving and logistics, with a path to company placements, while Kpando’s MP rolled out “SMILE TO SCHOOL” support for new SHS students. Women in Transport: Togo’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also expanding women’s employability in transport and cargo handling, aiming to grow cohorts over time. Sports (Ghana vs Togo): Ghana’s Black Maidens assistant coach Edna Quagraine says the team will stick to its game plan ahead of their WAFU B clash with Togo, as preparations also tie into the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Community Peacebuilding: Ghana’s Oti Regional Peace Council sensitised Assembly Members in Jasikan and Kadjebi on conflict prevention and early warning.

Women in Transport & Logistics: Lomé welcomed the first cohort of “Femme Action CCI-Togo,” training 10 young women in heavy truck driving, port handling equipment and logistics, with classroom work, simulator practice, then a three-month company immersion. Women’s Skills Pipeline: CCI-Togo also launched a wider Femmes-Actions-CCI-Togo push to expand women’s employability in transport and cargo handling, aiming to grow from 10 to 250 participants. Local Education Support: Kpando MP Sebastian Deh rolled out “SMILE TO SCHOOL,” a two-day package of school essentials for newly admitted SHS students to ease costs for parents. Community Peacebuilding: Oti Regional Peace Council sensitised Assembly Members in Jasikan and Kadjebi on conflict prevention, early warning and mediation, urging vigilance on land, chieftaincy and youth issues. Sports & Morale: Ghana’s Black Maidens say they’ll stick to their game plan against Togo, while coach Nana Joe Adarkwa claims comments by Ghana’s sports minister on bonuses/per diems affected player morale. Global Policy Watch: The US published Exchange Visitor Skills Lists, adding African countries where some exchange participants may face a two-year home residency requirement before certain US immigration benefits.

Education & Youth Support: Kpando MP Sebastian Deh launched the “SMILE TO SCHOOL” initiative, a two-day drive giving newly admitted SHS students learning and living essentials like trunks, mattresses, bags and exercise books, easing pressure on parents. Women in Transport: In Lomé, CCI-Togo started the first “Femme Action” cohort training 10 young women in heavy truck driving and logistics, with classroom work, simulator practice, and a three-month company placement—aiming to expand to 250. Skills for Women (Transport & Logistics): A parallel CCI-Togo push is also training women for cargo-handling and transport roles, targeting sectors still seen as male-dominated. Local Peacebuilding: Oti Regional Peace Council sensitised Assembly Members in Jasikan and Kadjebi on peacebuilding, early warning and conflict prevention, urging faster dialogue and information sharing with traditional and religious leaders. Togo’s Learning & Teaching Capacity: Togo selected over 3,000 teachers through the 2026 recruitment exam, including roles for FabLabs and across preschool to secondary levels. Business & Research Needs: CCI-Togo mapped what businesses need most for growth—financing, standards, market access, IP and stronger links between researchers and companies. Pan-African Culture: Ghana’s Nkrumah legacy sparked fresh debate as leaders condemned attempts to denigrate him, with calls to complete his unfinished Pan-African vision. Global Lifestyle Lens (Maps): Togo-backed “Correct the Map” gained UN support for equal-area world maps, pushing a more accurate view of Africa’s true size.