DYK Audit & Advisory, a leading Togolese accounting, audit, and consulting firm, will serve as the statutory auditor for Ecobank Group for the next six years. Ecobank’s General Assembly, held on May 28, 2025, in Lomé, approved the appointment. 

Dr. Yawo Félix Djidotor, a certified public accountant and senior partner at HLB Togo, will lead the audit. Djidotor holds an Executive Doctorate in Business Administration and served as president of Togo’s National Order of Chartered Accountants until 2023. HLB Togo’s mandate lasts until the General Assembly reviews the accounts for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2030.

Ecobank made this appointment to comply with the  Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) regulations. OHADA requires public companies to appoint at least one auditor registered in the country where the company’s headquarters are located. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, the group’s holding company, is based in Lomé.

HLB Togo, registered with Togo’s National Order of Chartered Accountants, joined the global HLB network in 2024. HLB operates in more than 150 countries, with over 40,000 professionals in 750 offices worldwide. The firm serves both public and private clients, especially in the banking and finance sectors of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). 

HLB Togo was also recently appointed as alternate auditor for FICAO Grant Thornton Togo S.A., alongside Crowe TG ICAAF SARL, for a six-year term ending after the 2027 accounts.

With this appointment, HLB Togo joins Ecobank’s audit team, which has included international firms like Deloitte Nigeria and Grant Thornton Côte d’Ivoire. These firms remain involved in Ecobank’s audits but are not registered with Togo’s National Order of Chartered Accountants and cannot alone meet OHADA’s legal requirements.

This article was initially published in French by Fiacre E. Kakpo

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

The Trump administration has imposed partial entry restrictions on Togolese nationals, effective June 4, 2025. The policy affects seven countries facing tightened visa rules, citing persistent weaknesses in traveler screening and high visa overstay rates.

The White House highlighted Togo’s 19.03% overstay rate for B1/B2 visas and 35.05% for F, M, and J visas in its Overstay Report. 

While not a full ban, the restrictions target tourism, temporary work, and study visas. This could hinder academic and professional opportunities for young Togolese seeking training or jobs in the U.S.

Togo’s government, currently pushing to strengthen international partnerships for digital transformation and foreign investment, faces added strain. The move coincides with reduced U.S. aid under Trump, including the shutdown of USAID’s Togo office.

The restrictions may slow economic, technological, and human exchanges critical to Togo’s development agenda.

Lomé has not yet issued an official response, but concerns mount over impacts on university exchanges, skills transfers, and business relations.

12 other countries face total entry bans, while Togo’s restrictions remain partial.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Togo is about to join the Pan-African Great Green Wall initiative. Officials confirmed this on May 28, 2025, during the project validation meeting held in Lomé.

Juan Carlos Vasquez, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) representative, confirmed the news after meeting with Togo’s Environment Minister, Foli Bazi Katari.

“The membership process is almost complete,” Vasquez said. He added that a ministerial meeting and a summit of heads of state will take place before the end of 2025 to make it official.

The Great Green Wall, led by 20 countries, aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land stretching from Senegal to Djibouti. According to Lomé, joining the initiative will help the country better fight climate change and promote sustainable rural development.

UNEP pledged to support Togo financially and technically to build a national program for land restoration activities.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has agreed to help Togo raise €200 million through a partial guarantee. The two partners announced this on June 2, 2025.

The arrangement will enable Togo to secure funding from international commercial lenders, including Legal & General (L&G) and Deutsche Bank.

The 20-year sustainable loan will finance projects focused on climate change adaptation, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, clean energy access, and pollution reduction.

“By securing this sustainable loan, we send a strong signal to investors about the strength of our economic governance,” said Essowè Georges Barcola, Togo’s Minister of Economy and Finance.

Maryam Khosrowshahi, a director at Deutsche Bank, said the bank was “honored to have contributed to Togo’s first sovereign operation in partnership with L&G, the African Development Fund (ADF), and Global Sovereign Advisory.”

Solomon Quaynor, Vice President of the AfDB, described the deal as “a decisive step forward” for Togo’s visibility in international markets.

The transaction marks Togo’s first use of the Guarantor-of-Record structure, an innovation by the African Development Fund designed to increase financing availability for low-income countries.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Pan-African banking group Ecobank has been named “Best Bank in Africa 2025” by Global Finance magazine, the company said on Tuesday. The recognition came during the 32nd edition of the World’s Best Banks Awards.

Two Ecobank subsidiaries, in Togo and The Gambia, also received awards as the best banks in their respective countries.

A panel of financial analysts, banking consultants, business executives, and rating agencies cited Ecobank Transnational Incorporated’s (ETI) ability to serve customers effectively in complex environments while maintaining strong financial performance and laying the groundwork for sustainable growth.

The jury highlighted Ecobank’s asset growth, profitability, geographic reach, strategic partnerships, expansion into new markets, and product innovation as key factors behind the awards.

Jeremy Awori, Ecobank Group CEO, said the awards reflect the bank’s commitment to customer-centric strategies and a diverse financial product offering tailored to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and regional and international organizations.

“We maximize our impact through key product pillars including treasury management, trade finance, capital markets, lending, investment banking, and wealth and asset management,” Awori said in a statement.

The awards will be formally presented at the Global Finance Awards ceremony scheduled for October 18, 2025, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., coinciding with the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Ecobank, headquartered in Lomé, Togo, has a history of industry recognition. In 2024, its Togo subsidiary was named “Bank of the Year” for the fifth consecutive year by The Banker magazine.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh 

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Togo has officially started renewing its Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) on June 2, 2025. The National Assembly opened the candidate submission period, which will run until June 13.

The renewal targets five members: three from the extra-parliamentary opposition and two from civil society. Political parties outside the National Assembly and civil society organizations must submit their candidate files to the office of the National Assembly president, according to an official parliamentary statement.

This reshuffle comes ahead of the municipal elections scheduled for July 17, 2025. It also follows a recommendation from political actors gathered in the Permanent Consultation Framework (CPC). They called for revitalizing the CENI to ensure better representation and transparency in the electoral process.

The current CENI leadership, headed by Yago Dabré, has been in office beyond its mandate for several months. According to opposition parties, adding new members is essential for holding credible and peaceful elections.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

The Togolese Ministry of Economy and Finance recently warned about a scam spreading on social media. The ministry exposed a fake note dated May 25, 2025, falsely claiming to launch “online investment sessions” linked to a supposed investment level chart.

The ministry categorically denied any involvement in this scam. The authorities labeled the note a deliberate digital fraud designed to deceive citizens, before stressing that they communicate only through official channels, mainly public media outlets.

Georges Barcola, the supervising minister, urged the public to stay alert against these scams. He also warned that the fraudsters face serious legal consequences.

Togo kicked off its 2025 national reforestation campaign on June 1. The government allocated CFA11.18 billion to the initiative, the Ministry of Environment confirmed through Togo Presse.

Under the campaign, the government plans to reforest 34,563 hectares by planting 37.71 million seedlings of different species. On day one, officials reported planting at least 2 million young trees.

This campaign supports Togo’s national goal to plant one billion trees by 2030 and boost forest cover to 25%. The Ministry of Environment leads the program to fight climate change, restore damaged ecosystems, and protect natural resources.

From June 5 to 17, Togo will hold the 4th Environment and Sustainable Development Fortnight (QEDD). The theme, “Pollution and Nuisance: What Solutions Can We Find?” aims to raise public awareness and promote sustainable habits. 

The event will feature activities to educate citizens on pollution, waste management, and climate change challenges.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh 

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Togo aims to train 50,000 students every year in artificial intelligence, coding, and digital English. The government started a pilot program this year at the University of Lomé, enrolling 1,500 students in the first phase of the project.

Officials say the program will equip young Togolese with essential digital economy skills. It supports inclusion and transforms the country’s workforce.

Cina Lawson, Minister of Digitalization and Digital Economy, calls this “a strategic investment in Togo’s technological sovereignty.”

The program is developed with U.S. startup Kira Learning to offer free training nationwide. It covers AI, Python programming, and digital English.

Andrea Pasinetti, CEO of Kira Learning, praises the partnership as “visionary,” putting Togo at the forefront of digital education in Africa.

The training is fully online. It combines interactive videos, hands-on exercises, and personalized help from an AI tutor. Graduates earn certificates from both Togolese universities and Kira Learning, with an option for international accreditation.

The program welcomes students from science, humanities, and literature.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum