Togo is one of Africa?s poorest nations. Togo has a deplorable record on human rights and receives no direct U.S. aid. The United States seeks to promote democracy, human rights, and sustainable economic development there. However, it has few resources to apply to these goals, and trends in Togo often seem to be moving in a negative direction. With Togo?s economy at a low ebb trade with the United States is at minimal level, with few near-term opportunities for increased U.S. sales. Consular fraud is a persistent problem. The Ambassador and DCM provide superb leadership to their Embassy of 11 direct hire Americans, 3 of whom are first-tour officers. There are 12 other Americans on the Embassy staff. OIG has rarely seen a post whose ratings for front office leadership and administrative satisfaction were both as high. The local hire staff is not small: it includes 167 local security personnel and 105 Foreign Service nationals. The Embassy?s budget is $3.5 million. Department, bureau, and regional support, however, falls far short of what is needed to attain or even to approach the Embassy?s goals. The Embassy has endured long personnel vacancies. Local staff has no reliable retirement scheme. There is little prospect of early movement on a badly needed new chancery complex. Our people, meanwhile, work in an unsafe, cramped, and inefficient work environment.
OIG recommends that the Department and the Bureau of African Affairs evaluate the need for continued U.S. presence in Togo. If the Department intends to keep an embassy in Lome, an increased level of support is necessary.
This site is managed by the Office of Inspector General and the Bureau of Public Affairs as a source of information from the Office of Inspector General. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.