Ghana Champions Trans-Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign to Accelerate Visa-Free Movement
The Government of Ghana has officially endorsed the Trans-Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign, a bold initiative designed to promote a borderless continent and facilitate visa-free movement for Africans. Launched in Accra, this campaign arrives at a pivotal moment for the travel industry, as policymakers, business leaders, and civil society increasingly recognize that Africa’s economic future hinges on greater regional integration and seamless connectivity.
At the campaign’s inauguration, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah called the initiative a “journey to unite Africa,” emphasizing the urgent need to dismantle visa barriers that have long stifled both tourism and trade. Debrah commended the campaign organizers and their sponsors for their vision, underscoring Ghana’s commitment to creating a larger, more dynamic market through the free movement of people and goods across the continent.
Campaigner Ras Mubarak eloquently captured the spirit of the enterprise, describing this journey as both literal and symbolic—a call to action for Africans to see themselves as “one people with one destiny.” The campaign will span 163 days, covering about 40,000 kilometres and requiring roughly 600 hours of driving. Mubarak’s team will meet with African heads of government, address the press in every country visited, and present letters urging the adoption of visa-free policies. The campaign’s route will be a powerful demonstration of unity, as it engages leaders and the public in a continent-wide conversation about the economic and social benefits of integration.
Mubarak’s argument for a borderless Africa is grounded in economic logic and demographic reality. Africa’s population of 1.4 billion people and combined GDP of \$3.4 trillion position the continent as a potential global powerhouse—if intra-African trade and movement are prioritized. He pointed to the paradox that, even with abundant local resources, African countries still rely heavily on imports from Europe and Asia. For instance, despite Zambia’s strong poultry production and Morocco’s leadership in fertilizer supply, the continent continues to import these goods from outside markets.
The campaign highlights the restrictions that currently hinder African mobility. Mubarak noted the irony that it is often easier for Africans to travel to Europe or Asia than to neighboring African regions. “It is more difficult for someone from Southern Africa to travel to West Africa than to travel to Turkey. This is because of visa restrictions. We want to change that,” he said. The campaign’s central message is that intra-African barriers are costing the continent valuable opportunities—from lost jobs to missed investments and weakened cultural ties.
Ghana’s government has made it clear that the vision for African unity is not just aspirational, but actionable. The Chief of Staff expressed full support for the campaign’s goals, affirming that a unified African market is within reach if countries work together to remove administrative and policy obstacles. This sentiment was echoed by Mubarak, who challenged the continent to move faster than the African Union’s current 2063 timeline for a borderless Africa. “We want to see a borderless Africa within the next five years, and it is possible. Other regions have done it, and we can too,” he declared, urging leaders to act on the momentum generated by this campaign.
The campaign will rely on the support of sponsors, the media, and a mobilized civil society to sustain its message across borders. Mubarak’s closing remarks thanked these partners and called for broad public participation, arguing that the success of the movement depends on collective ownership and advocacy at every level of society.
For the African travel sector, the implications are profound. A borderless Africa would dramatically boost tourism flows, hotel occupancy, airline traffic, and cross-border business. It would also unlock new opportunities for youth, entrepreneurs, and local producers, who would benefit from easier access to markets and partnerships across the continent. By championing visa-free movement, Ghana and its partners are laying the groundwork for a new era in African tourism—one defined by unity, prosperity, and shared opportunity.
As the Trans-Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign embarks on its 40,000-kilometre odyssey, it is not only advocating for policy change but also inspiring a new narrative about what is possible when Africa acts as one. For industry professionals, the call to action is clear: now is the time to support regional integration, break down old barriers, and position Africa as a destination where borders are no longer obstacles, but gateways to growth and unity.
