AGP Executive Report

Togo’s Digital Economy: Gozem’s evolution from motorcycle taxis to payments, transfers, bill pay and money management shows how Lomé’s fintech growth is riding on regional instant payments and expanding digital public services. Regional Trade & Customs: Fidelity Bank Ghana urges harmonised customs systems across West Africa, warning that fragmented procedures and poor data keep traders—especially women importing via Lomé and Nigeria—paying extra time and costs. Blue Economy & Connectivity: A new push for sea-based passenger and cargo links across Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria aims to ease the Abidjan–Lagos road bottleneck and make cross-border movement faster and safer. Diplomacy: Switzerland appoints Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, with a background in international cooperation and science. Energy & Industry Context: Nigeria’s $25bn gas pipeline plans face delays, while broader regional infrastructure and refining moves keep shaping West Africa’s tech-and-energy outlook.

Cultural & Youth Economy: Agortime in Volta Region wrapped up its 31st Kente Festival, urging protection of traditional weaving skills and pushing for sustainable income paths for young artisans as rising input costs and cheap imitations threaten authenticity. West Africa Connectivity: A new look at the Gulf of Guinea corridor highlights how Lagos, Benin’s Cotonou, and Lomé are evolving into a more connected trade and logistics belt—while a “blue frontier” push for cross-border sea transport is pitched as a faster alternative to congested road routes. Undersea Cable Security: A report urges Australia to treat submarine cable resilience as a regional priority, warning that threats to undersea links could also become a strategic investment opportunity. Diplomacy: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, with a background spanning international cooperation and science studies. Trade Modernisation (Ghana): Fidelity Bank Ghana calls for harmonised customs systems and better data to cut costs for traders—especially women importing via Lomé and Nigeria. Energy & Industry: Nigeria’s Dangote refinery coverage and Aradel’s plan to start petrol refining in 2027 both point to shifting regional fuel and industrial dynamics. Tech & Travel: KBUG.africa launched as an Africa-focused digital travel intelligence platform to help travellers “know before they go.”

Maritime Trade Shift: Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria are seeing a new cross-border sea transit push, using high-capacity passenger and cargo vessels via Lomé to ease the Abidjan–Lagos road bottleneck and speed up safer regional movement. Undersea Connectivity Security: A new report urges Australia to become an “Indo-Pacific preferred cable hub” as submarine cable threats grow, with hyperscaler investment potentially reshaping undersea infrastructure priorities. Diplomacy & Science Background: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, highlighting his molecular biology and neuroscience training alongside senior development and mission roles. AI for Trade (Ghana): Fidelity Bank Ghana calls for harmonised customs systems and better data quality to help traders—especially women importing through Lomé—cut bureaucracy and unlock AI-enabled commerce. Energy Resilience (Liberia): A solar-and-battery roadmap is proposed to end Liberia’s dry-season hydropower shortages and reduce reliance on costly backup generation. Regional Aviation Watch: Analysis flags at least 75 Russian-linked military or contractor flights supporting Central Sahel operations between Jan 2025 and Jul 2026.

Submarine Cable Security: A new report urges Australia to become an “Indo-Pacific preferred cable hub,” warning that rising hybrid war risks and threats to undersea cables could reshape regional investment and security priorities. Diplomacy & Science Background: Switzerland appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, highlighting his molecular biology and neuroscience training alongside years in international cooperation. Trade Tech for Development: Fidelity Bank Ghana calls for harmonised customs systems across West Africa, saying fragmented procedures and poor data block traders—especially women—and that AI in trade depends on data quality. Energy Resilience: Liberia’s power crisis is linked to hydropower dry-season drops, with solar plus battery storage presented as a practical path to steadier electricity. Digital Influence Watch: UK refusal to disclose details on an Israeli influence firm tied to election meddling claims points to wider concerns about cyber operations reaching Africa. Health & Youth Jobs: An African Youth Survey finds many young people see employment as key to community safety, with unemployment and poverty topping threat lists. Togo in the Media Loop: Togolese bloggers shared their Moscow trip with Lomé residents, including how they plan studies and careers in Russia.

Diplomacy Appointment: Switzerland has named Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, with a background spanning molecular biology, neuroscience, and senior roles in Swiss International Cooperation. Food & Livestock Tech: Bangladesh plans modern meat processing centres in every district to boost safe processing, preservation and future exports. Energy Resilience: Liberia is pushing a solar roadmap with battery storage to cut dry-season power shortages caused by hydropower dependence. Trade & Data Systems: Fidelity Bank Ghana urges harmonised customs procedures across West Africa, warning that poor data quality and fragmented systems slow trade—especially for women traders importing via Lomé and Nigeria. AI for Energy Management: A new piece explores how AI and smart technologies can improve energy forecasting, fault detection and demand control. Security & Aviation Watch: A report says Russian state-linked forces in the Central Sahel used at least 75 military-linked flights between Jan 2025 and Jul 2026. Digital Travel: Evans Travel & Tours launched KBUG.africa to help travellers plan trips with destination guides and practical info.

Swiss Diplomacy: Switzerland has appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, with a background spanning molecular biology/neuroscience and senior roles in Swiss development cooperation. Security & Tech: A UK refusal to release details on an Israeli “information warfare” firm tied to election interference in Scotland is reigniting questions about digital meddling across Africa and Europe. Aviation Watch: New analysis says Russia-linked forces in the Central Sahel relied on at least 75 military or military-linked flights from Jan 2025 to Jul 2026, using sanctioned aircraft and regional staging routes. Trade & AI for Business: Fidelity Bank Ghana urges harmonised customs systems and better data quality, warning that AI for trade only works when underlying records are reliable—especially for women traders importing via Lomé. Energy Resilience: Liberia’s solar-plus-battery roadmap targets dry-season power shortages driven by hydropower dependence. Connectivity: Amazon’s satellite internet plans to reach South Africa in 2027 via Herotel, raising hopes for rural access and new concerns about long-term dependence on foreign infrastructure.

Diplomacy & Science Background: Switzerland has appointed Dr Thomas Oertle as Ambassador-designate to Ghana, Benin and Togo, bringing years of international cooperation experience and a doctorate in natural sciences from ETH Zurich. Trade & Data for SMEs: Fidelity Bank Ghana urged harmonised customs systems across West Africa, warning that fragmented procedures and poor data keep traders—especially women—paying more and moving goods slower. Energy Resilience: A Liberia-focused solar roadmap highlights how shifting from hydropower dependence to utility solar plus battery storage could end predictable dry-season blackouts. AI in Energy Management: A new explainer breaks down how AI and smart grids can forecast demand, detect faults and improve control—useful context as African utilities explore digital upgrades. Youth, Jobs & Security: An African Youth Survey 2026 finds young people increasingly link unemployment and poverty to community safety, with job creation topping government priorities. Regional Tech & Connectivity: Amazon says its Leo satellite internet service could reach South Africa in 2027 via Herotel, aiming to extend coverage beyond fibre and fixed wireless. Water Science: A groundwater mapping push argues Africa’s hidden aquifers can be made safer to use through digital, science-based maps.

Mental Health Access: UNK’s clinical mental health counseling program is offering free, confidential practicum counseling to community members, tackling provider shortages and high session costs. Trade & Data Systems: Fidelity Bank Ghana is pushing for harmonised customs procedures across West Africa, warning that fragmented rules and poor data raise costs for traders—especially women importing via Lomé and Nigeria. Travel Tech: Evans Travel & Tours launched KBUG.africa, a continent-focused digital travel intelligence platform to help travellers plan with destination guides, practical info and local experiences. Sahel Air Monitoring: A new analysis using flight-tracking data says Russian state-aligned forces in the Central Sahel relied on at least 75 flights between Jan 2025 and Jul 2026. Energy Storage for Resilience: Malawi commissioned its first grid-scale lithium battery system to stabilize solar power after hydropower losses from Tropical Storm Ana. Digital VAT Reform: WATAF convened nearly 400 participants to advance digital VAT administration across West Africa. Groundwater Mapping: A new Africa-wide effort is building science-based digital maps to identify safe groundwater pumping sites as surface water becomes less reliable. AI in Healthcare Finance: XiFin and Notable Systems announced a multi-year AI alliance to deliver agentic automation across revenue cycle management. Togo-Linked Election Influence Claim: A report says France’s Viginum flagged BlackCore-linked digital influence operations affecting elections in Togo and other places, while the UK withheld related files citing national security.

Climate & Health: UK-led research warns extreme heat plus ageing could increasingly drive deaths and strain health services, using a “compounding risk” approach across hundreds of regions. Digital Economy & Policy: A pan-African PR firm (AMA) was named exclusive PR partner for DASA 2026 in Accra, spotlighting blockchain, real-world assets, stablecoins and regulation. Energy Resilience: Malawi commissioned its first grid-scale lithium battery storage after storm damage to hydropower, showing how storage can stabilize solar-heavy grids. Water Science: A new push to map Africa’s groundwater aims to guide safe pumping and reduce guesswork as drought and floods disrupt surface water. AI for Public Services: West Africa’s tax bodies, via WATAF, gathered nearly 400 participants to speed up digital VAT reform. Healthcare Tech (Tanzania): An AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot in Tanga is giving adolescents confidential health info to reduce stigma barriers. Regional Tech & Mobility: Discussions around visa-free movement and digital futures keep tying tech progress to real cross-border access.

Digital Economy & PR: Abidjan-based AMA has been named the exclusive Pan-African PR partner for DASA 2026 in Accra, a summit bringing together C-suite leaders and regulators to discuss blockchain, tokenization, stablecoins, Web3 and digital-asset rules. Climate & Health Systems: UK climate-health work highlights how flooding, storms, extreme heat and strained healthcare systems interact as compounding risks for ageing populations. Cyber/Foreign Influence: The UK refuses to release files on an Israeli firm accused of meddling in Scotland’s election, with France’s digital-interference watchdog previously linking the case to operations affecting elections including Togo. Water Science: A new push to map Africa’s groundwater aims to guide safe pumping and resilience as droughts and downpours grow more erratic. AI in Health Finance: XiFin and Notable Systems announce a multi-year alliance to deliver agentic AI for revenue cycle management using document intelligence and workflow orchestration. Energy Resilience: Malawi’s grid-scale lithium battery storage is credited with stabilizing solar power after major hydropower losses. Togo in Regional Tech & Youth: The African Youth Survey 2026 reports Togolese youth rank among Africa’s most positive toward China, the U.S. and the EU, alongside strong demand to make business creation easier. Digital VAT Reform: WATAF convenes nearly 400 participants to modernize VAT administration across West Africa using digital innovation. Mobility Startup: Moove becomes Africa’s most valuable mobility unicorn at $2.1bn after a $250m Series C, expanding autonomous fleet operations. Open Borders Push: Chad and the Republic of Congo plan to scrap visa requirements for all Africans from Jan 1, 2027.

AI & Health Finance: XiFin and Notable Systems announced a multi-year alliance to build agentic AI for healthcare revenue cycle work, combining document intelligence with revenue-cycle data and workflow orchestration. Digital Tax Reform: WATAF convened nearly 400 participants across 16 West African countries to modernize VAT administration, pushing digital innovation to boost domestic revenue. Energy Resilience: Malawi commissioned its first grid-scale lithium battery storage system, aiming to stabilize solar power after hydropower losses from Tropical Storm Ana. Water Science: A new effort is mapping Africa’s groundwater to guide safe pumping and strengthen drinking-water security as droughts and floods become more erratic. Regional Integration & Mobility: Chad and the Republic of Congo plan to scrap visa requirements for all African nationals from Jan 1, 2027, aligning with AfCFTA free-movement goals. Togo-Linked Youth Tech & Perception: Togo’s youth report very positive views of major partners and strong demand to make business creation easier, alongside a separate push for AI-powered confidential health chat support in Tanzania.

AI & Regulation: France’s G7 AI push puts major labs and startups at the table, with a focus on safer digital spaces for minors, supply-chain security, and moving toward interoperable rules. Digital Connectivity: Amazon’s Leo satellite internet is set to reach South Africa in 2027 via Herotel, promising coverage beyond fibre but raising questions about affordability and long-term dependence on foreign infrastructure. Youth & Skills: Zambia’s youth survey finds 55% of young people optimistic about the country’s direction, while Sri Lanka ranks 73rd in English proficiency—an education signal for the region. Water & Climate Science: A new push to map Africa’s groundwater aims to guide safe pumping as droughts and floods intensify. Power Resilience: Malawi’s first grid-scale lithium battery system is helping stabilize solar supply after hydropower losses. Health Tech for Youth: Tanzania’s AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot helps adolescents access confidential health info in Tanga. Regional Tech & Governance: West Africa’s VAT reform drive (WATAF) brings nearly 400 participants to modernize tax systems with digital tools. Togo Angle: Togolese youth show very positive views of China, the U.S., and the EU, and rank high on demand to make business creation easier.

Satellite Internet Expansion: Amazon’s Leo plans to reach South Africa in 2027 via Herotel, aiming to connect homes and businesses beyond fibre and fixed wireless—raising big questions for affordability and who controls the infrastructure. Water Security Science: Researchers are mapping Africa’s groundwater to show where communities can pump safely as droughts and floods intensify. Grid Resilience in Malawi: A lithium battery system is now stabilizing solar power after storm damage to hydropower, offering a model for climate-exposed grids. Digital Tax Reform: WATAF gathered nearly 400 participants to push digital VAT modernization across West Africa. Cybersecurity Leadership (Togo): Palakiyem Assih has been appointed board chairman of Cyber Defense Africa, bringing CERT.tg experience. Inclusive Payments: AfricaNenda urges interoperable instant payment systems so banks and mobile money can work together across borders. Togolese Youth & Tech Outlook: A survey finds Togolese youth highly positive about major partners and eager to make business creation easier. Health Tech for Youth (Tanzania): An AI WhatsApp chatbot is giving young people confidential health info in Tanga. Regional Security Tech: ISS and partners are working on a unified approach to counter violent extremism across West Africa.

Women & Health Leadership: Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, was named among ABCD Africa’s “100 Most Impactful Voices 2026,” spotlighting women’s empowerment, girls’ education and better access to equitable healthcare across Africa. Digital Finance & Inclusion: WATAF convened nearly 400 participants across 16 countries to push digital VAT reform and modernize VAT administration for stronger domestic revenue in West Africa. Cybersecurity Governance: Togolese cybersecurity leader Palakiyem Assih was appointed board chairman of Cyber Defense Africa (CDA), building on her role at CERT.tg. Energy Resilience Tech: Malawi’s new grid-scale lithium battery storage system is helping stabilize solar power after major hydropower losses, offering a model for climate-exposed grids. Payments Infrastructure: AfricaNenda urged regulators and industry to adopt inclusive instant payment systems with interoperable rules across banks, mobile money and fintech. Togo in Youth Perception: An African Youth Survey 2026 reports Togolese youth rate China, the U.S. and the EU very positively and show low concern about cross-border security threats.

Military Pay Scale: Nigeria’s new Armed Forces salary structure takes effect Sept. 1, 2026, lifting a general to N3.25m monthly and a private to N187,200, with increases from 30% to 80% and an annual bill rising from N660bn to N924bn. Water & Climate Tech: A new push to map Africa’s groundwater aims to guide safe pumping as droughts and floods intensify, targeting the continent’s hidden water reserves for resilience. Digital Tax Reform: West Africa’s tax administrations, via WATAF, gathered nearly 400 participants to modernize VAT management using digital tools to boost domestic revenue. AI Health Access (Tanzania): In Tanga, an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot helps adolescents get confidential health information, reducing stigma barriers before they reach services. Cybersecurity (Togo): Togolese cybersecurity leader Palakiyem Assih is appointed board chairman of Cyber Defense Africa, building on his CERT.tg experience. Maritime Security Warning: A “ghost ship” case tied to a vessel bound for Lomé highlights gaps in maritime monitoring and preparedness in the region. El Niño Preparedness: Compassion International urges African churches to prepare ahead of expected severe El Niño flooding from October 2026, not during the rains. Mobility Startup: Moove becomes Africa’s most valuable mobility unicorn at $2.1bn after a $250m funding round.

Bio-Enabled Farming: A global shift is underway from fertilizer-only agriculture to biology-led, precision farming that boosts nutrient use, restores soils, and protects resources—India is highlighted for biofertilizer and soil-science breakthroughs. Digital VAT Reform: West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) gathered nearly 400 participants across 16 countries to modernize VAT management using digital tools to strengthen domestic revenue. Power Resilience in Malawi: Malawi commissioned its first grid-scale lithium battery storage system, showing how battery backup can stabilize solar-heavy grids after hydropower losses. Inclusive Payments Push: AfricaNenda Foundation trained journalists on inclusive instant payment systems, urging interoperable rules so banks, mobile money, and fintech can work together—also with a human-centered storytelling angle. AI in African Languages: Benin, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria and Togo back ATLAS Umoja AI to build AI for local languages, aiming to improve digital literacy and locally relevant content. Togolese Cyber Leadership: Palakiyem Assih appointed board chairman of Cyber Defense Africa, bringing CERT.tg experience to the regional cybersecurity push. Food Safety Enforcement (Ho): Expired beverages and unwholesome food were destroyed in Ho after court action, under municipal environmental health supervision. Sports Tech in Togo: Togolese referee Vincentia Enyonam named for a CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match, with VAR support assigned.