Togo adopted its flag on April 27, 1960, the day it gained independence from France, and has not changed it since.
Paul Ahyi's design
The flag was designed by Paul Ahyi, one of Togo's best known artists. Before independence, the flags flown over the territory belonged to French mandate rule and carried the symbols of the colonial administration. The 1960 flag replaced them, and it still looks exactly as Ahyi drew it.
The stripes, the square, and the star
Five horizontal stripes alternate green and yellow, with a red square in the upper hoist corner carrying a white star. Green is for agriculture and the forests, which matters in a country whose economy leans heavily on farming. Yellow stands for mineral wealth and for faith in hard work. The red square is for the blood shed on the way to independence, and the white star set against it for hope, purity, and unity. The five stripes correspond to Togo's five regions.
Use and protocol
The flag flies over government buildings, at national events, and at international meetings. Rules cover how it is raised and lowered, and those routines are followed at commemorations and in schools. There are no separate official variants: the national flag is used in every context.
Pan-African colors, and an echo of Liberia
Togo's green, yellow, and red are the Pan-African colors used across the continent. The combination of stripes with a star in a corner also recalls the flag of Liberia, though in Togo the elements carry their own meanings. At home, the flag turns up at festivals, in art and literature, and at political demonstrations, where it has been carried as a rallying symbol.
References
[1] "The Republic of Togo." Government of Togo Official Website. https://www.republicoftogo.com
[2] "Flags of the World: Togo." Vexillology Association. https://www.fotw.info