Radio Lome is a state-run radio station in Togo.
Media assets
Radio: Radio Lome
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
Radio Lome is a state-owned radio operator subordinated to the Ministry of Communication and Media. According to information gathered from local journalists in February 2024, the government appoints the station’s management.
In January 2022, the government in Togo adopted legal provisions to merge the country’s audiovisual media (TVT, Radio Lome, and Radio Kara) into a single entity that will operate as Radio et Television du Togo (RTVT). The transition process is ongoing.
Source of funding and budget
Radio Lome is fully funded by the government, according to information from FES, a German foundation that maps African media.
In recent years, the Chinese government has exerted a growing influence on Radio Lome. According to documents consulted by the Media and Journalism Research Center, a total of US$ 12m in funding awarded by the Chinese government to Radio Lome and TVT (another state-run media outlet) has been identified between 2017 and 2022.
Editorial independence
No provisions oblige Radio Lome to favor the government in its programs. Still, indirectly, through funding and control of the station’s management, the government has full control over the channel’s editorial coverage, according to a survey among ten Togo journalists conducted in February 2024.
There is no statute and no oversight or assessment mechanism that would validate Radio Lome’s editorial independence.
July 2024