Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
THE Trans Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign has secured visas to enter Botswana, a breakthrough its leader Mr Ras Mubarak has said keeps alive the vision of a borderless Africa.
Mr Mubarak, a former Ghanaian MP, said the approval came after nearly three months of waiting and was critical to the campaign’s 163-day journey across 39 African countries.
“This approval is more than just a bureaucratic victory; it is a beacon of hope for our mission to promote free movement across the continent,” he said.
“A refusal would have been a setback, but this breakthrough keeps our vision alive.”
He credited Ernest Moloi, editor at the Botswana Guardian and Midweek Sun and Mr Opare Kumi, Honorary Consul of Ghana in Botswana, for their instrumental role in facilitating the visas and ensuring the campaign’s journey could continue.
Launched in 2025, the Trans Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign is a Pan-African initiative that seeks to promote free movement, intra-African trade and cultural exchange.
The campaign also highlights economic opportunities, youth empowerment, and the broader benefits of regional integration.
By traversing the continent over several months, the campaign demonstrates the potential of Africa’s interconnected markets and cultures.
The journey has so far taken the team from Ghana through Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Namibia.
In each country, the campaign engages local communities, highlights investment opportunities, and promotes intra-African tourism.
Reflecting on Namibia, Mr Mubarak said the country has economic potential, particularly in the beef industry.
“Every dollar spent importing goods from outside Africa is a job created elsewhere,” he said.
Mr Mubarak said it was important for Africans to trade more among themselves to build wealth locally and create jobs.
He also praised Namibia’s cultural richness and natural beauty, including the towering sand dunes of the Namib Desert and the Himba tribe’s steadfast traditions.
The campaign has received strong backing from the Government of Ghana, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ghana High Commission in Namibia, as well as corporate partners including Ghana Gas, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Stanbic Bank Ghana.
With Botswana now opening its doors, the campaign is poised to continue its mission of transforming borders from barriers into bridges across the continent.
Mr Mubarak said the journey is a reminder of Africa’s shared potential and the need for greater cooperation among nations to unlock prosperity for all, especially the youth.
