Blamé Ekoue
Blame Ekoué is the Togo correspondent for the BBC and for Paris-based media house, ANA. He has also reported for Associated Press and Radio France International. He holds a BA in Communications from the Leader Institute in Lomé. Formerly deputy editor of the West Africa Revue, he has been a contributor to the Lome-based Business and Finance magazine since 2015.
Bringing the diaspora home 

Bringing the diaspora home 

In a bid to harness the skills and economic clout of its diaspora, Togo’s government has developed an inclusive strategy to encourage citizens abroad to carry out projects in the country and participate in economic, social and cultural development.   The government...

The fight against cross-border child trafficking

The fight against cross-border child trafficking

“I was entrusted to a woman who wanted a servant in Cotonou. I got up at 5am and worked about 18 hours a day. I spent two years with my employer without being able to speak with my parents. I suffered a lot of physical abuse until the day I decided to flee. I came...

Female leadership through basic education for girls

Female leadership through basic education for girls

According to data from Togo’s last demographic census in 2010, women play a vital role in the country’s economy, representing more than 51.4% of the total population, then estimated at 6.2 million. Despite this, the country has a long way to go in achieving gender...

The West African kingdom that became a country

The West African kingdom that became a country

Togo: the German legacy Togo’s accession to the modern age of international politics could be said to have begun in July 1884, when the protectorate treaty with Germany was signed In 1883, the German chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, decided to impose a protectorate on...

Waiting for their day in court

Waiting for their day in court

Togo: fear and favour The Gnasssingbé clan has been ruling Togo for more than 50 years.The late Eyadema Gnassingbé to power in January 1967, following what was described as the first coup d’état in black Africa, during which Sylvanus Olympio, the country’s first head...

Ethnicity fuels bad governance

Togo: one-man rule Decades of family rule in this West African country have resulted in very little development Ethnicity has been an important political tool for the family that has ruled Togo for nearly half a century. The current president, Faure Essozimna...

Togo’s next generation of textile traders step up

Togo’s next generation of textile traders step up

Togo’s famous textile traders amassed fortunes and have played a major role in the country’s economy, but things have changed Togo’s legendary women captains of the textile industry, known as Nana Benz, first became famous in the mid-20th century for the fortunes they...

Togo’s doubled-edged sword

Togo’s doubled-edged sword

The government’s plans to tax the country’s informal businesses is costing jobs For a long time, Togolese authorities have praised the informal sector for the role it has played in keeping the country’s economy afloat since 1993, when the European Union imposed...

Blamé Ekoue
Blame Ekoué is the Togo correspondent for the BBC and for Paris-based media house, ANA. He has also reported for Associated Press and Radio France International. He holds a BA in Communications from the Leader Institute in Lomé. Formerly deputy editor of the West Africa Revue, he has been a contributor to the Lome-based Business and Finance magazine since 2015.
Bringing the diaspora home 

Bringing the diaspora home 

In a bid to harness the skills and economic clout of its diaspora, Togo’s government has developed an inclusive strategy to encourage citizens abroad to carry out projects in the country and participate in economic, social and cultural development.   The government...

The fight against cross-border child trafficking

The fight against cross-border child trafficking

“I was entrusted to a woman who wanted a servant in Cotonou. I got up at 5am and worked about 18 hours a day. I spent two years with my employer without being able to speak with my parents. I suffered a lot of physical abuse until the day I decided to flee. I came...

Waiting for their day in court

Waiting for their day in court

Togo: fear and favour The Gnasssingbé clan has been ruling Togo for more than 50 years.The late Eyadema Gnassingbé to power in January 1967, following what was described as the first coup d’état in black Africa, during which Sylvanus Olympio, the country’s first head...

Ethnicity fuels bad governance

Togo: one-man rule Decades of family rule in this West African country have resulted in very little development Ethnicity has been an important political tool for the family that has ruled Togo for nearly half a century. The current president, Faure Essozimna...

Togo’s next generation of textile traders step up

Togo’s next generation of textile traders step up

Togo’s famous textile traders amassed fortunes and have played a major role in the country’s economy, but things have changed Togo’s legendary women captains of the textile industry, known as Nana Benz, first became famous in the mid-20th century for the fortunes they...

Togo’s doubled-edged sword

Togo’s doubled-edged sword

The government’s plans to tax the country’s informal businesses is costing jobs For a long time, Togolese authorities have praised the informal sector for the role it has played in keeping the country’s economy afloat since 1993, when the European Union imposed...