The campaign, which began at the Black Star Square in Accra on Monday morning, will see participants travel 40,000 kilometres, engaging with African leaders, civil society, and citizens along the route.

The first stop is Lomé, Togo, before continuing to Benin, Nigeria and other countries across West, Central, Southern and Eastern Africa, with the journey ending back in Ghana.

Addressing the media before departure, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, commended the initiative but urged participants to prioritise safety.

“I just drew their attention that security is the most important thing because there are bad people all over the world. As much as possible, they should spend the night within towns. Usually, when you spend too much time in the bush, it is risky,” he cautioned.

He further advised the team to prepare for logistical challenges, saying, “Make sure you have your spare tyres, jack, medication, and others so that if something slows you down, you can change and move on.”

The campaign is backed by the government of Ghana through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by a wide range of corporate and civil society partners. It is designed to amplify calls for free movement across Africa, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Ras Mubarak said the initiative is about much more than visa-free travel. “Our goal is to urge African leaders to adopt one currency, work toward a borderless Africa, and appreciate the enormous impact this will have on our people,” he stated.

He explained that the 163-day journey would involve meetings with Heads of Government, presentations of letters advocating visa-free policies, press briefings, cultural showcases, and engagements with stakeholders to highlight the benefits of African integration.

“This campaign is a movement to reclaim Africa’s narrative through open borders and shared prosperity. By fostering a visa-free Africa, we pave the way for a stronger, more connected continent for future generations,” Mubarak added.

He stressed that Africa’s combined population of 1.4 billion and GDP of $3.4 trillion meant the continent had no reason to lag behind.

“If we are trading more amongst ourselves, if we are travelling in each other’s countries without restrictions, we will be able to create more jobs for African sons and daughters.

“What is in our best interest as Africans? Our best interest is to make sure our people prosper. And the only way… is through trade, open borders, and a united Africa,” he said.

The campaign, described by organisers as a bold step toward breaking down barriers, will culminate in October 2025, with participants hoping their message resonates with leaders and citizens alike.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

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“It is time we… realise that having visa restrictions amongst ourselves is working against us,” he told an international conference.

Visa-free travel within the continent has been a goal of the African Union (AU) for the past decade.

While there are regional deals and bilateral arrangements, progress towards no restrictions has been slow.

Only Seychelles, The Gambia and Benin offer entry to all African citizens without a visa, according to a 2022 AU-backed report.

But according to Africa’s Visa Openness Index – which measures the extent to which each country in Africa is open to visitors from other African countries – most countries are making progress towards simplifying entry processes and dropping restrictions to some other nations.

In 2022, Kenya was ranked 31st on the index out of 54 states.

President Ruto told an audience in Congo-Brazzaville that it was bad for business.

“When people cannot travel, businesspeople cannot travel, entrepreneurs cannot travel, we all become net losers.

“Let me say this: As Kenya, by the end of this year, no African will be required to have a visa to come to Kenya,” he said to loud cheers from the conference delegates.

“Our children form this continent should not be locked in borders in Europe and also be locked in borders in Africa.”

He was speaking at a summit aimed at protecting some of the world’s largest rainforests.

The AU launched its African passport in 2016. The idea behind the passport is for all African citizens to be able to travel throughout the continent without visas – but it is still not widely available.

This is in part because of concerns about security, smuggling and the impact on the local employment markets.

If dropping all visa restrictions is currently a step too far, the Visa Openness Index report recommends a number of other measures. These include lowering fees, making visa on arrival standard for African visitors and implementing a secure e-visa system.