Togo

Emmanuel Adebayor

Soccer

Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor, known as Emmanuel Adebayor, is a Togolese footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Togo national team. Adebayor previously played for Metz, Monaco, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester City. He was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008. Adebayor represented the Togo national football team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the country's début, and to date only, appearance at the World Cup. In January 2010, Adebayor was one of the players involved when the Togo team's bus came under gunfire on the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, after which he retired from national team duty. In 2013 he returned to the Togo team for the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, where he helped them to qualify for the quarterfinals. He is currently Togo's all-time top goalscorer with 27 goals. A towering striker, Adebayor is described as being "tall, skilful, strong in the air and with the ability to score and create."

Gnassingbé Eyadéma

Politician

General Gnassingbé Eyadéma was the President of Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005. He participated in two successful military coups, in January 1963 and January 1967, and became President on April 14, 1967. As President, he created a political party, the Rally of the Togolese People, and headed a single-party regime until the early 1990s, when reforms leading to multiparty elections began. Although his rule was seriously challenged by the events of the early 1990s, he ultimately consolidated power again and won multiparty presidential elections in 1993, 1998, and 2003; the opposition boycotted the 1993 election and denounced the 1998 and 2003 election results as fraudulent. At the time of his death, Eyadéma was the longest-serving ruler in Africa.

Faure Gnassingbé

Politician

Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé is a Togolese politician who has been the President of Togo since May 4, 2005. A son of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, he was appointed to the government by his father, serving as Minister of Equipment, Mines, Posts, and Telecommunications from 2003 to 2005. When Eyadéma died on February 5, 2005, Gnassingbé was immediately installed as President with support from the army. Doubts regarding the constitutional legitimacy of the succession led to heavy regional pressure being placed on Gnassingbé, and he resigned on February 25. He then won a controversial presidential election on April 24, 2005, and was sworn in as President again. Gnassingbé is the National President of the Rally of the Togolese People, the ruling political party. He was re-elected for a second term as President of Togo in 2010.

Peniel Mlapa

Soccer

Peniel Kokou Mlapa is a German footballer who currently plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Sylvanus Olympio

Politician

Sylvanus Epiphanio Olympio was a Togolese political figure who served as Prime Minister, and then President, of Togo from 1958 until his assassination in 1963. He came from the important Olympio family, which included his uncle Octaviano Olympio, one of the richest people in Togo in the early 1900s. After graduating from the London School of Economics, he worked for Unilever and became the general manager of the African operations of that company. After World War II, Olympio became prominent in efforts for independence of Togo and his party won the 1958 election making him the Prime Minister of the country. His power was further cemented when Togo achieved independence and he won the 1961 election making him the first President of Togo. He was assassinated during the 1963 Togolese coup d'état.

Razak Boukari

Soccer Midfielder

Abdoul-Razak "Razak" Boukari is a Togolese international footballer who plays as a winger. He is currently on loan at Ligue 1 side Sochaux from English club Wolverhampton Wanderers. He progressed from Châteauroux to play top level football in France for both Lens and Rennes, before joining Wolves in 2012.

Moustapha Salifou

Soccer Midfielder

Moustapha Salifou is a Togolese footballer who plays as a midfielder.

Mohamed Kader

Soccer

Mohamed Abdel-Kader Coubadja-Touré is a Togolese football forward.

Kossi Agassa

Soccer

Kossi Agassa is a Togolese footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Stade Reims.

Lalawélé Atakora

Soccer Midfielder

Lalawélé "Lala" Atakora is a Togolese footballer currently playing for Balıkesirspor on loan from AIK as a winger.

Jean-Paul Abalo

Soccer Defender

Jean-Paul Yaovi Dosseh Abalo is a former Togolese football defender, who last played for Al-Merrikh in Sudan.

Edem Kodjo

Politician

Édouard Kodjovi Kodjo, better known as Edem Kodjo, is a Togolese politician and diplomat. He was Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity from 1978 to 1983; later, in Togo, he was a prominent opposition leader after the introduction of multiparty politics. He served as Prime Minister from 1994 to 1996 and again from 2005 to 2006. Kodjo is currently the President of the Patriotic Pan-African Convergence.

Gale Agbossoumonde

Soccer Defender

Gale Agbossoumonde is a Togolese-born American soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

Dové Womé

Soccer Midfielder

Sename Dové Womé Dobe is a Togolese footballer. He currently plays for South African Premier Soccer League side Mamelodi Sundowns.

Tabi Bonney

Hip hop Artist

Tabiabuè Bonney, better known as Tabi Bonney, is a Togo-born, Washington, D.C.-based rapper. He is the son of Itadi Bonney, an afro-funk musician popular during the 1970s in Togo and West Africa. Bonney achieved recognition in the Washington metro area with his radio singles "The Pocket" and "Doin It," which featured Raheem DeVaughn. Bonney started a clothing line called Bonney Runway; he has also directed and produced music videos for several artists including friend and fellow D.C.-associated rapper Wale.

Bachirou Salou

Soccer

Bachirou Salou is a retired Togolese footballer who played as a centre forward. Due to the many years spent in Germany, where he played for five clubs, he possessed double nationality.

Serge Akakpo

Soccer Defender

Serge Ognadon Akakpo is a Togolese footballer who currently plays for the Slovak Corgoň Liga club Žilina. He previously played for NK CM Celje in the Slovenian First League.

Gilchrist Olympio

Politician

Gilchrist Olympio is a Togolese politician and the President of the Union of Forces for Change, the country's main opposition party. Since the late 1970s, Mr. Olympio gained notoriety as a charismatic West African political thought leader, because of his courageous and outspoken opposition to the brutal regime of late president General Gnassingbe Eyadema in Togo. Mr. Olympio is also the son the first elected president of Togo and father of the small country's independence movement, former President Sylvanus Olympio, who was assassinated in a 1963 coup led by Gnassingbe Eyadema. Gilchrist Olympio and his family lived in exile from the mid-60s to the early 2000s, but has now returned to Togo.

Sénah Mango

Soccer Defender

Sénah Mango is a Togolese footballer who currently plays as defender for Olympique Marseille in the French Ligue 1.

Nicéphore Soglo

Politician

Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo is a Beninois politician who was Prime Minister of Benin from 1990 to 1991 and President from 1991 to 1996. He has been the Mayor of Cotonou since 2003. Soglo is married to Rosine Vieyra Soglo, the Beninois former First Lady and politician.

Joachim Kessef

Pornographic actor

Joachim Kessef is a Togolese pornographic actor and director. He is one of the few black performers regularly seen in hardcore European pornography. Kessef was born in Togo but he grew up in suburban Paris. He has appeared in hundreds of interracial anal scenes since his debut in 1996. Kessef has stated he prefers to work with Russian and Czech female performers. He was one of ten performers in Furious Fuckers Final Race who won the 2008 AVN Award for Best Sex Scene Foreign Production. He directed his first film in 2009 for Evil Angel titled Joachim's Czech Fuckfest.

Assimiou Touré

Soccer Defender

Assimiou Touré is a Togolese football defender. He currently plays for KFC Uerdingen. He also holds a German passport.

Souleymane Mamam

Soccer Midfielder

Souleymane Mamam is a Togolese footballer who is currently playing with Nejmeh SC, having been released by Belgian Third Division A side K.R.C. Mechelen in July 2010. He plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger.

Améleté Abalo

Football player

Améleté Abalo was the assistant coach of Togo national football team and manager of ASKO Kara. He was killed in the Togo national football team bus attack by the terrorist group Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda when travelling to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

Gilbert Houngbo

Politician

Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo is a Togolese politician who was Prime Minister of Togo from September 2008 to July 2012.

Nicolas Grunitzky

Politician

Nicolas Grunitzky was the second president of Togo and its third head of state. He was President from 1963 to 1967. Grunitzky was Prime Minister of Togo from 1956 to 1958 under the French Colonial loi cadre system, which created limited "national" government in their colonial possessions. His political rival Sylvanus Olympio was elected President of Togo—still under French administration—in 1958, and was elected first President of independent Togo in 1960. Following the 1963 coup which killed Olympio, Grunitzky was chosen by the military committee of coup leaders to be Togo's second President.

Komlan Amewou

Soccer Midfielder

Komlan Amewou is a Togolese football player who plays for Nîmes Olympique.

Chérif Touré Mamam

Soccer

Cherif-Touré Mamam is a Togolese footballer who plays as a midfielderfor the Togo national team.

Reto Schenkel

Olympic athlete

Reto Amaru Schenkel is a Swiss sprinter, who specializes in the 100 metres. Schenkel competed in both 100 and 200 m at the 2006 World Junior Championships. He finished fifth in the 100 m at the 2007 European Junior Championships. In the 4 x 100 m relay he finished fourth at the 2007 European Junior Championships and competed at the 2009 World Championships. His personal best times are 6.81 seconds in the 60 m, achieved in February 2007 in Magglingen; 10.45 seconds in the 100 m, achieved in July 2006 in Olten; and 21.12 seconds in the 200 m, achieved in June 2009 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He also holds the Swiss record in the 4 x 100 m relay.

Pascal Simpson

Football player

Pascal "Pagge" Simpson is a former Swedish football striker who had played for AIK and FC Copenhagen. He was part of the AIK squad that won the Swedish championship in 1992, its first such championship in 55 years. Simpson contributed significantly to the win. He scored twice against FC Barcelona in the 1997 Cup Winners Cup quarter-finals; at Camp Nou he stunned the Catalans by scoring in the first minute of play. He was also part of the AIK squad that won the Swedish cup in 1996 and 1997. In the 1996 cup final he scored the winning goal against Malmö FF. He was capped twice for the Swedish national team and played 7 matches for the Swedish Olympic football team in 1992. He scored the qualifying goal for the Swedish Olympic football team against Holland that landed the team a spot at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Simpson had severe leg and knee problems due to a ligament injury. He had surgery in 1997 but in the end this damage caused his footballing career to come to an early end. The knee injury has caused Simpson severe pain, stopping him from running and jogging. Despite this, he has stayed involved with football by coaching youth for Brommapojkarna and lower league clubs. In 2007 he was the coach for IFK Eskilstuna but left due to the club's financial problems.

Kofi Yamgnane

Politician

Kofi Yamgnane is a French-Togolese politician. Former engineer in the French Bridges and Roads administration, he was Secretary of State in the French government in 1991-1993 and representative of Finistère in the French Parlement in 1997-2002. He stood as a candidate in the 2010 Togolese presidential election; however, his candidacy was rejected by the Constitutional Court due to doubt about his identity. His papers showed two different birth dates, October 11, 1945, and December 31, 1945. He became well known in France in 1989 after being elected mayor of a village of Brittany, Saint-Coulitz, and at this time, one out of only two black mayors in Metropolitan France, the other was Auguste Senghor, mayor of Le May-sur-Èvre, a town in the Maine-et-Loire département, from 1989 to 2008, when he became mayor of another town, Saint-Briac.

King Mensah

African popular Artist

King Mensah known as "The Golden Voice of Togo", is one of the most popular musical acts from Togo, West Africa. Though based in Lomé, he regularly records and promotes his albums in Paris, and has embarked on several world tours since 2005. Singing in Mina, Ewe, and French, King Mensah's sound fuses elements of traditional Ewe music, and Kabye dance-drum music, with funk, reggae and West African Afropop. King Mensah's lyrical themes are steeped in religion and hopeful encouragement for the orphaned, oppressed and downtrodden.

Abdoul-Gafar Mamah

Soccer Defender

Abdoul-Gafar Mamah is a Togolese footballer who plays for FC Dacia Chişinău on loan from FC Alania Vladikavkaz as a full back.

Daré Nibombé

Soccer Defender

Daré Nibombé is a Togolese defender who plays for RBD Borinage. Nibombé started his football career in Togo. In 1999, he was transferred to ASKO Kara the most important football team in Togo. After two years he was transferred to Ghanaian team Liberty Professionals F.C. but after a couple of seasons, Nibombé returned to AS Douanes in Togo.

Zanzan Atte-Oudeyi

Soccer Defender

Mohammed Zanzan Atte-Oudeyi is a Togolese footballer. He's playing in Belgium at a 3rd Provincial Division team FC Eksaarde

Sapol Mani

Soccer Midfielder

Sapol Mani is a Togolese football Midfielder currently playing for CA Batna in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.

Massamasso Tchangai

Soccer Defender

Komi Massamasso Tchangai was a Togolese football defender.

Prince Segbefia

Soccer Midfielder

Kossi Prince Segbefia is a Togolese football player who plays for French club Auxerre in Ligue 2. He plays as an attacking midfielder. Segbefia is a Togolese international and made his debut in September 2011 against Botswana. His older brother, Alikem, is also a footballer who plays for Al-Jaish SC Damascus in Syria.

Vincent Bossou

Soccer Defender

Vincent Bossou is a Togolese football player, who is currently playing for Becamex Bình Dương.

Jean-Pierre Fabre

Man

Jean-Pierre Fabre is a Togolese politician. He has been the Secretary-General of the Union of the Forces of Change, Togo's main opposition party, since 1992, as well as the President of the UFC Parliamentary Group in the National Assembly from 2007 to August 10, 2010. Fabre was the UFC candidate for the March 2010 presidential election. On August 10, 2010, Jean-Pierre Fabre is elected National Chairman of the UFC party.

Adékambi Olufadé

Soccer

Adékambi Olufadé is a former Togolese football midfielder. He was a member of the national team, and was called up to the 2006 World Cup. His first name is sometimes written Adekanmi or Adekamni.

Bonfoh Abass

Politician

El-Hadj Bonfoh Abass ahb-ASS-BOHN-foh is a Togolese politician who was the interim President of Togo from February 25, 2005 to May 4, 2005. He was the President of the National Assembly of Togo from 2005 to 2013.

Pascal Bodjona

Politician

Pascal Akoussoulèlou Bodjona is a Togolese politician who served in the government of Togo as Minister of State for Territorial Administration, Decentralization, and Local Collectivities, as well as Government Spokesman, from 2007 to 2012. Previously he was Ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2005 and Director of the Presidential Cabinet from 2005 to 2007.

Kodjovi Obilalé

Soccer Goalkeeper

Kodjovi Dodji Obilalé is a Togolese former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He last played for French amateur club GSI Pontivy. His career was cut short after he was severely injured in a bus attack against the Togolese team that took place in the Cabinda Province, Angola just days before the start of the 2010 African Cup of Nations.

Arafat Djako

Soccer Forward

Arafat Djako is a Togolese footballer. He currently plays for Bnei Sakhnin in the Israeli Premier League.

Ousseni Labo

Football player

Ousseni Labo is a Togolese footballer, who currently plays for VfL Wolbeck.

Kodjo Afanou

Soccer Defender

Kodjo Afanou is a French football defender. He currently plays for Al Hazm in Saudi Arabia. He moved to France at a young age.

Tadjou Salou

Football player

Tadjou Salou was a Togolese football player who captained the national side. In his club career he played in both Africa and Europe. It was announced on 4 April 2007 that Tadjou had died following a long illness at the age of 32.

Yao Junior Sènaya

Soccer Midfielder

Yao Séyram Junior Sènaya is a Togolese football player who currently plays for Al-Jazira Al-Hamra as a striker or as a midfielder. He is widely regarded as one of Togo's's best players. He is the younger brother of Yao Mawuko Sènaya.

Kuami Agboh

Soccer

Kuami Agboh is a Togolese football defender/midfielder who last played for MyPa.

Komlan Mally

Politician

Komlan Mally is a Togolese politician who served as Prime Minister of Togo from December 2007 to September 2008. He was Minister of State for Health from September 2008 to June 2011.

Agbéyomé Kodjo

Politician

Messan Agbéyomé Gabriel Kodjo is a Togolese politician who served as Prime Minister of Togo from 29 August 2000 to 27 June 2002.

Camaldine Abraw

Soccer

Camaldine Abraw is a Togolese footballer who is currently playing for Free State Stars in the South African Premier Soccer League.

Sami Tchak

Award Winner

Sadamba Tcha-Koura, pen-name Sami Tchak, is a Togolese writer.

Claude Grunitzky

Man

Claude Grunitzky is a journalist, editor and entrepreneur. A graduate of the University of London and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he is best known as founder and editor-in-chief of the lifestyle publication TRACE, an international fashion and music title, and as a co-founder of the TRACE TV network. He runs TRUE, a transcultural think tank and consultancy through a strategic partnership with leading network TBWA\Worldwide, and is often involved in organizing international cultural exhibitions and events.

Komlavi Loglo

Tennis Player

Komlavi Loglo is a professional Togolese tennis player. He was born in Badou, Togo.

Franck Atsou

Soccer Defender

Edem Komlan Franck Atsou is a Togolese football player who currently plays for Esteghlal Ahvaz in the Iran Pro League.

Baba Tchagouni

Soccer

Baba Tchagouni is a Togolese footballer, who plays for Dijon FCO.

Emmanuel Bob-Akitani

Politician

Emmanuel Bob-Akitani is a Togolese politician who was the main opposition candidate in the 2003 and 2005 Togolese presidential elections. He is the Honorary President of the Union of Forces for Change. Bob-Akitani was a founding member of the UFC and was, at the time of the 2003 election, the UFC's First Vice-President. Akitani stood as the UFC's candidate in 2003 because UFC President Gilchrist Olympio had been barred from running due to his failure to meet the residency requirement. According to official results, he placed second behind long-time President Gnassingbé Eyadéma in the 2003 election, with 33.68% of the vote against 57.78% for Eyadéma. The UFC alleged fraud and Bob-Akitani claimed to have won the election. Following Eyadéma's death, he ran again in the April 2005 election as the candidate of an opposition coalition that included the UFC. He was again declared runner-up in the election, behind Eyadéma's son, Faure Gnassingbé, amidst widespread allegations of seized ballot boxes and other electoral fraud. At a UFC party congress in July 2008, Bob-Akitani was named Honorary President of the UFC.

Djene Dakonam

Soccer Defender

Dakonam Ortega Djené is a Togolese international footballer who plays professionally for Coton Sport in the Cameroonian Elite One league, as a Right Back.

Ali Khaddafi

Football player

Ali Khaddafi is a Togolese football midfielder. He currently plays for the Indonesian team Persepam Madura United.

Yao Aziawonou

Soccer

Yao Kaka Aziawonou is a Togolese football midfielder who plays for FC Winterthur. He is a member of the Togo national football team, and was called up to the 2006 World Cup.

Kpatcha Gnassingbé

Man

Kpatcha Gnassingbé is a Togolese politician. He is a son of Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who was President of Togo from 1967 to 2005, and a brother of Faure Gnassingbé, who has been President since 2005. From 2005 to 2007, Kpatcha Gnassingbé was Minister of Defense, and since 2008 he has been a Deputy in the National Assembly of Togo. In April 2009, he was arrested on suspicion on plotting to overthrow his brother.

Ibrahim Abdoulaye

Soccer

Abdoulaye Ibrahim is a football striker. He plays for Dynamic Togolais.

Albert Batsa

Football player

Albert Batsa is a Togolese football midfielder. He currently plays for Maranatha F.C..

Adzo Kpossi

Olympic Swimmer

Adzo Kpossi in Lomé, is a Togolese swimmer. She was born in Lomé. She competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Tagba Mini Balogou

Football player

Mini Tagba Balogou is a Togolese footballer who currently plays for FC Mulhouse.

Tété-Michel Kpomassie

Author

Tété-Michel Kpomassie is an explorer and writer from Togo, and the author of An African in Greenland.

Kléber Dadjo

Politician

Kléber Dadjo served as Interim President of Togo in his role as Chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee from 14 January 1967 to 14 April 1967 following the overthrow of President Nicolas Grunitzky's government. Col. Kléber Dadjo, was born in Siou on August 12, 1914. He was of the Nawde ethnic and linguistic group. Col. Dadjo served in the British Army during World War II and in the French Army in the Indochina and Algerian conflicts. At the time of Togo's independence in 1960, he was the longest-serving and highest-ranking Togolese in the French Army. He held the rank of Captain and commanded Togo's tiny defence force, the Garde Togolaise. He was promoted to Major and eventually to Colonel after the 1963 coup d'état and served as head of the military cabinet of President Nicolas Grunitzky. After the second military coup d'état on January 13, 1967, Dadjo was named interim President of Togo, a position that he held until April 14, 1967, when Lt. Col. Gnassingbé Etienne Eyadéma was named President. From 1967 through 1968, he served as Minister of Justice and as Chef du Cabinet Militaire de la Présidence de la République.

Affo Erassa

Soccer Midfielder

Affo Omorou Erassa is an Togolese football midfielder.

Joseph Kokou Koffigoh

Politician

Joseph Kokou Koffigoh is a Togolese politician who served as Prime Minister of Togo from 27 August 1991 to 25 April 1994. Elected as Prime Minister by the opposition-dominated National Conference in 1991, Koffigoh was given full executive powers and tasked with overseeing a transition to multiparty elections. Beginning in December 1991, however, President Gnassingbé Eyadéma increasingly reasserted his authority at Koffigoh's expense. Although Koffigoh remained in office, the opposition eventually abandoned him, feeling he had become too cooperative with Eyadéma. Koffigoh has been the President of the Coordination of New Forces since 1993. He was replaced as Prime Minister after the 1994 parliamentary election, in which the CFN performed poorly, although Koffigoh himself won a seat in the National Assembly. Later, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 2000 and Minister of Regional Integration, in charge of Relations with Parliament, from 2000 to 2002.

Abdou Moumouni

Soccer

Jafar Djabouro Moumouni is a Togolese footballer who currently plays for F.C. Aboomoslem in the Iran Pro League. He left Chaux-de-Fonds on 30 September 2008.

Poul Adado

Soccer Midfielder

Paul Adado is a Togolese football currently playing for Panserraikos F.C.

Denké Kossi Wazo

Football player

Denké Kossi Wazo is a former Togo international football player.

Améyo Adja

Woman

Améyo Adja is a Togolese politician and a member of the Pan-African Parliament from Togo. Adja was born in Lomé. She was elected to the National Assembly of Togo in the October 2002 parliamentary election as a candidate of the Rally for the Strengthening of Democracy and Development from the Second Constituency of Lomé, and she became President of the Opposition Parliamentary Group. She was elected to the ECOWAS Parliament by the National Assembly on November 2, 2005, receiving 59 votes from the 68 deputies present. She was also elected to the Pan-African Parliament, becoming one of Togo's five members when it began meeting in March 2004.

Yao Mawuko Sènaya

Soccer Midfielder

Yao Mawuko Sènaya is a Togolese football midfielder, who plays for Saint-Louis Neuweg in the French football. He was released by FC La Chaux-de-Fonds in summer 2008. He is the older brother of Yao Junior Sènaya.

Didier Paass

Football player

Didier Paass is a Togolese football forward playing for French side Jura Sud Lavans. He is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder. He had played with French clubs Red Star Saint-Ouen and Olympique Noisy-le-Sec, German TSV Aindling, Bosnian NK Posušje and Aris Limassol in Cyprus. During the season 2009-10 he played with French Championnat National side Amiens SC. Since summer 2010 he plays with Jura Sud Lavans.

Abdou Ouro-Akpo

Football player

Abdou Ouro-Akpo is a Togolese international footballer who plays for German club SV Schermbeck, as a striker.

Léopold Gnininvi

Politician

Léopold Messan Kokou Gnininvi is a Togolese politician and the Secretary-General of the Democratic Convention of African Peoples. He served in the government of Togo as Minister of State for Mines and Energy from 2006 to 2007, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration from 2007 to 2008, and Minister of State for Industry, Crafts, and Technological Innovations from 2008 to 2009. Gnininvi was born in Aného, Lacs Prefecture. He is a Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, having received his doctorat d'Etat from the University of Dijon in France in 1977. He became a full professor in 1981. From 1978 to 1993, he was the head of the solar energy laboratory at the University of Lomé. He was Director of the National Institute of Educational Science from 1979 to 1988 and National Director of Scientific Research from 1987 to 1993. He retired from teaching at the University of Lomé in 1997. Gnininvi was elected as Secretary-General of the CDPA in March 1991. At the 1991 Sovereign National Conference, Gnininvi was the opposition's initial choice for the position of Prime Minister, but he withdrew in favor of Joseph Kokou Koffigoh, the leader of the Togolese League of Human Rights, who was better known than Gnininvi, for the sake of opposition unity. He became the President-in-Office of the Collective of the Democratic Opposition, the main opposition coalition, in August 1992. In 1992 and August 1997, he was re-elected as Secretary-General of the CDPA.

Sadat Ouro-Akoriko

Soccer Defender

Sadat Ouro-Akoriko is a Togolese international footballer who plays professionally for Free State Stars in the South African Premier Soccer League, as a defender.

Zarifou Ayéva

Politician

Zarifou Ayéva is a Togolese politician and the President of the Party for Democracy and Renewal. He served in the government of Togo as a minister during the 1970s and became an opposition leader in the early 1990s. He was a minor candidate in the 1998 presidential election and later served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007. Ayéva was born in Sokodé, Tchaoudjo Prefecture. He was appointed to the government as Minister of Trade, Industry, and Transport on March 5, 1975, and he was appointed as Deputy Director-General of the National Iron and Steel Company in Lomé in 1977. He was also appointed as Secretary-General of the Togolese National Olympic Committee on March 17, 1977. He was retained in the government as Minister of Trade and Transport on January 17, 1978 before being moved to the position of Minister of Information on November 14, 1978. He was dismissed from the government on March 19, 1979 and was appointed as Director-General of SNS on the same day, remaining in that post until 1982. Ayéva subsequently became the President of the PDR, which was founded in May 1991, and from 1991 to 1993 he was a member of the High Council of the Republic, which acted as the transitional parliament; on the HCR, he served as President of the Commission on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Security. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the June 1998 presidential election, taking fourth place with 3.02% of the vote. On June 18, three days before the election, he and fellow opposition candidate Yawovi Agboyibo called for the election to be delayed due to irregularities during electoral preparations and difficulties they faced in campaigning, including their treatment by the High Audiovisual and Communication Authority. A residence belonging to Ayéva was ransacked by security forces on August 17, 1998.

Kwami Kacla Eninful

Soccer Defender

Kwami Eninful is a Togolese footballer, he plays for AS La Marsa.

Luc Agbala

Football player

Luc Agbala Watékou was a Togo international football forward and referee.

Euloge Placca Fessou

Soccer Forward

Mèmè Placca Fessou is an Togolese footballer who plays as a striker for OC Agaza.

Joseph Tchao Kokou

Football player

Joseph Tchao Kokou is a Togolese footballer, who plays for ASKO Kara.

Kevin Gnatiko

Football player

Kevin Gnatiko is a Togolese-born American soccer player who currently plays for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Second Division.

Alikem Segbefia

Soccer Midfielder

Kuessi Alikem Segbefia is a Togolese footballer, who plays for Teshrin.

Zakari Morou

Soccer Midfielder

Zakari Morou is a Togolese international footballer who plays as a midfielder.

Sénouvo Agbota Zinsou

Author

Sénouvo Agbota Zinsou is a Togolese playwright and theatre director.

Charles Kondi Agba

Man

Charles Kondi Agba is a Togolese politician who served in the government of Togo from 1999 to 2008. He again served in the government as Minister of Health from 2011 to 2013.

Nicole Coste

Woman

Mohamed Sadik Coubageat

Soccer Midfielder

Mohamed Sadik Coubageat is a Togolese football midfielder, who plays for [ AL ITTIHAD 07 - 08 and Khaleej Sirte in the Libyan Premier League.

Fambaré Ouattara Natchaba

Politician

Fambaré Ouattara Natchaba is a Togolese politician. He was the President of the National Assembly of Togo from 2000 to 2005. He is a prominent member of the ruling Rally of the Togolese People and is a member of the Pan-African Parliament representing Togo.

Kwassi Klutse

Politician

Kwassi Klutse is a Togolese politician who was the Prime Minister of Togo from August 20, 1996 to May 21, 1999. Klutse was born in Agbélouvé, Zio Prefecture. After working as an official at the Ministry of Planning from 1977 to 1995, he was appointed to the government of Prime Minister Edem Kodjo as Minister of Planning and Territorial Development on November 29, 1995. Subsequently, in by-elections that were held in constituencies where the results of the 1994 parliamentary election had been annulled, the Rally of the Togolese People of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma won all three constituencies at stake, giving it and its allies a parliamentary majority and enabling it to form a new government without relying on Kodjo's Togolese Union for Democracy party. Klutse was then appointed as Prime Minister by Eyadéma on August 20, 1996. Previously not a member of a political party, in 1997 Klutse joined the RPT and became a member of its Political Bureau. On August 19, 1998, Eyadéma accepted the resignation of Klutse and his government, but he reappointed Klutse on August 20 to head a new government, which was named on September 1. The opposition refused to participate in this government, and Klutse, speaking on television, "deplore[d] that the sincere and brotherly hand extended by the president was not accepted by the leaders of the opposition".