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Ras Mubarak writes: Africa must unite to dismantle visa barriers

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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

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GALOP Project: Tamale Mayor cuts sod for construction of 6-unit classroom block at Zakaliyili

Published by Inusah Dondaliya

25th February 2026

The Mayor of Tamale, Adam Abukari Takoro has cut sod for construction of 6-unit classroom block at Zakaliyili, a farming community under Tamale South Constituency, aimed at increasing access to education and providing educational infrastructure to communities where there are no public schools.

This reflects the wish of the community members as access to basic education has been a challenging one to their kids due to lack of community basic school, resulting to their children trekking several distant kilometers to seek education.

Following the ground breaking ceremony for the commencement of the construction of the 6-unit classroom block on Tuesday 24th February 2026, by the Tamale Mayor, the predicament of the children with school going-age will soon be over as the project is expected to be completed in 8 months’ time.

Hon. Abu Takoro cut the sod on behalf of the Education Minister and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu under whose influence the project came to fruition through Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes project known as GALOP.

It forms part of shared commitment and responsibility of the MP and the Tamale Mayor not to only increase access to education within the area but to also ensure inclusive education at all stages especially at the basic level.

The Chief and and elders of Zakaliyili joined the Mayor and his team at the project site in the community to break the ground for the work to start in earnest.Also, Accompanying the Mayor for the sod cutting ceremony were officers from the Planning and Engineering department of the Tamale Metro Assembly and other senior staff.

Addressing the Chief and the elders during his courtesy call to the community Palace prior to the ground breaking ceremony, the Mayor urged the community members to collaborate with the contractors for smooth work on site, admonishing them to serve as watchdogs of the project against any theft of construction materials among other forces that can work against the progress of the work.

He also urged the engineers in charge of the project to hire the unskilled labor within the community as laborers for the construction works.

On behalf of the community, the chief expressed his happiness over the project, noting that children who hitherto move to long distances in search of education in other communities will soon heave a sigh of relief now.

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Ramadan: Alhaj Farhan supports selected mosques in Tamale with food items

Published by Inusah Dondaliya

20th February 2026

Some Selected Mosques in Tamale have received food and assorted items from the Managing Director of Ghana Commercial Bank, Alhaji Farhan Alhassan, aimed at supporting Ramadan Festive season.

The gesture by Alhaj Farhan Alhassan forms part of his philanthropic drive of giving back to the society through GCB’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

The beneficiary Mosques include Anbariya Mosque, Bambawuyya Mosque, and Tamale Central Mosque.

Each mosque received 30 bags of rice, 10 bags of sugar, 10 cartons of milk, 10 cartons of Milo, and 10 cartons of Lifton Tea. In addition, they were each gifted with 10,000 Ghana Cedis.

On behalf of the various Mosques, their representatives expressed profound gratitude to the MD for the gesture, praying to Allah for only not rewarding him back abundantly but shield him from evil in his field of work.

On his part, the MD of GCB, Alhaj Farhan Alhassan mentioned that the Bank is embarking on this gesture as part of its corporate social responsibility.

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Hon. Patrick Boamah donates 200 bags of cement to support construction of NPP N/R party Office

Published by Inusah Dondaliya

19th February 2026

The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Hon. Patrick Yaw Boamah has committed resources to supporting the construction of NPP Northern Regional Office by donating 200 bags of cement to the Party Regional Executives.

The MP’s gesture forms part of his broader efforts to assist Regional Executives enforce completion of the project.

The Northern Regional Executives led by Chairman Mohammed Batimba Samba, last week, cut sod for construction of multi-purpose regional party office at Zogbeli in Tamale, aimed at ending long- aged problem of renting offices to spearhead party activities in the region including party’s operations and administrative work.

When completed the party office will contain 12 offices, a conference room, and guests rooms. Work is currently ongoing since the sod was cut and is expected to be completed in 6 months period.

Receiving the items, Alhaj Abdul Rahaman Mahama, the Northern Regional Second Vice Chairman of NPP, expressed his profuse gratitude to Hon. Patrick Yaw Boamah for his gesture, assuring that they will put it into good use to complement the construction of the project. He also lauded him for examplary leadership by extending his gesture beyond Greater Accra region to the Northern Region.

Alhaj Abdul Rahaman said “I will stand on behalf of the Regional Chairman and accept the items on behalf of the regional Chairman and say a very big thank you to Honourable Patrick Yaw Boamah and also say that we are so grateful to him for remembering us and also know that as a party man he is exhibiting leadership not only in Accra but all the way to Tamale, he is well appreciated. We will make sure that we put it into good use”.

Other Regional Executives present during the donation were Northern Regional Organizer, Rashid COP and the treasurer.

Patrick Yaw Boamah is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Okaikwei Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.

Boamah entered parliament on 7 January 2013 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party representing the Okaikwei Central Constituency. He was re-elected in the 2016 ,2020 and 2024 Ghanaian General Election to represent the constituency for a second consecutive term.

In parliament, he has served on various committees, some of which include; the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Foreign Affairs Committee.

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