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Published : Tuesday July 22 2025

Published: 6:10Am

As we count down to the start of the Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign, we face a sobering reality. Our team of 12 Ghanaians, four of whom are media crew from Ghana Television, will spend $11,520 in visa fees to travel across 39 African countries.

This staggering cost, just to move freely on our own continent, – our own homeland – is a painful reminder of the colonial borders that still divide us. As a friend recently remarked, “Why must I pay to visit my brother in another neighborhood?” Even capitalist Europe has largely abandoned visas for EU members, yet Africa remains shackled by bureaucratic hurdles.

With our media launch 22 days away on August 11, 2025, and our 120-day journey starting August 18, 2025, from Accra, Ghana, I am compelled to speak out.

Africa must unite. And it must start now, by rallying behind our campaign to dismantle visa barriers and forge a borderless, and prosperous continent.

This journey is personal to me. As a Ghanaian patriot, a pan-Africanist, and a former parliamentarian, I’ve long believed in the vision of Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere – a united Africa where our 1.4 billion people can travel, trade, and connect without hindrance.

As we count down to the start of the Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign, we face a sobering reality. Our team of 12 Ghanaians, four of whom are media crew from Ghana Television, will spend $11,520 in visa fees to travel across 39 African countries.

This staggering cost, just to move freely on our own continent, – our own homeland – is a painful reminder of the colonial borders that still divide us. As a friend recently remarked, “Why must I pay to visit my brother in another neighborhood?” Even capitalist Europe has largely abandoned visas for EU members, yet Africa remains shackled by bureaucratic hurdles.

With our media launch 22 days away on August 11, 2025, and our 120-day journey starting August 18, 2025, from Accra, Ghana, I am compelled to speak out.

Africa must unite. And it must start now, by rallying behind our campaign to dismantle visa barriers and forge a borderless, and prosperous continent.

Our campaign, endorsed by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a selfless step toward that dream. We will drive 600 hours, traversing 39 nations, from Algeria’s deserts to Zimbabwe’s plains, with the view to meeting heads of state, policymakers, and communities to advocate for visa-free policies, aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons.

Yet, the $14,520 visa fee burden we face exposes the deep fractures in our continent’s travel policies. Historically, visas and their fees emerged from colonial powers’ need to control movement and extract revenue, a legacy that persists today.

Ghana’s December 2024 decision to grant visa-free access to all African nationals (though yet to be fully implemented) and Kenya’s groundbreaking move to to give all Africans, save Libyans and Somalis completely visa free access, will open doors, likely securing reciprocal access.

In spite of Ghana’s Pan Africa gesture, several countries still impose costly requirements for not only Ghanaians but for other African nationals.

Our team has to cough up $7,800 for embassy visas for Equatorial Guinea, DRC, Mozambique, Namibia, Algeria and Angola; eVisas for Central African Republic, Chad, and Botswana add $3,600; ETAs for South Africa and Mauritania cost $1,200; and The Gambia and Republic of Congo’s tourism levy and visa-on-arrival fees add $1,920, bringing the visa related cost to $14,520.

These costs are a stark barrier to the free movement that could boost intra-African trade by 109% by 2035 under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

This $14,520 is not just a financial burden. It’s a symbol of our continent’s division. Every dollar spent on visas is a dollar diverted from showcasing Africa’s beauty, from Ethiopia’s ancient churches to Botswana’s Okavango Delta. It’s a dollar that could fuel trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.

Kenya’s bold July 2025 move to eliminate visa requirements for nearly all African countries, following Ghana’s lead, shows what’s possible. Rwanda, Seychelles, and The Gambia have also eased travel barriers, but too many nations cling to policies rooted in colonial control that stifle our potential.

As I prepare to lead this journey, I am driven by a vision of an Africa where no citizen needs a visa to explore their homeland. Tourism, a lifeline for millions of jobs and a significant contributor to our GDP, thrives when borders are open.

The AfCFTA’s promise of economic integration depends on free movement. Our campaign will amplify this message, partnering with media giants
to broadcast our #OpenAfrica #OpenOpportunities call to millions.

With 22 days until our media launch and 29 days until we hit the road, I call on every African to join us.

Governments must streamline visa processes for our team and commit to reciprocal visa-free policies. Businesses can sponsor fuel, accommodation, or vehicle maintenance, gaining visibility through our media platforms.

African citizens, especially the youth, can amplify our message on X, Facebook and other social media platforms, sharing stories of what a united Africa means to them.

To Africa’s leaders, I make this passionate appeal – embrace our call and act now. The time for half-measures is over. Follow Kenya and Ghana’s example – tear down visa barriers and build bridges between our nations.

Our campaign is a movement for every African, a chance to heal the wounds of division and celebrate our shared heritage. Join us to create an Africa where $14,520 in visa fees is a relic of the past, and every citizen can move freely toward a brighter, united future.

Article Written by: Ras Mubarak, Former MP – Kumbungu