Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
Leader of the Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign, meant to push for a visa-free Africa, Mr Ras Mubarak, has criticised the US$14 520 in visa costs his team is being forced to pay ahead of a 120-day road trip across 39 African countries.
Mr Mubarak has described the expense as both a financial burden and a reflection of the deep divisions that persist across the continent.
Speaking ahead of the campaign’s official media launch scheduled for August 11, Mr Mubarak said the 12-member team — including four journalists from Ghana Television — will spend over US$14 000 on visa fees alone before even setting off from Accra on August 18.
The journey is part of a pan-African effort to push for a visa-free Africa and stronger continental integration in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.
Mr Mubarak said the cost breakdown includes embassy visa fees for countries such as Equatorial Guinea, DRC, Mozambique, Namibia, Algeria and Angola; eVisas for Chad, the Central African Republic and Botswana; electronic travel authorisations for South Africa and Mauritania; and tourism levies and visa-on-arrival charges for The Gambia and Republic of Congo.
He said the campaign, supported by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is being hindered by the same outdated travel policies that the mission seeks to challenge.
“This US$14 520 is not just a financial burden. It is a symbol of our continent’s division,” Mr Mubarak said.
“Every dollar spent on visas is a dollar diverted from showcasing Africa’s beauty and potential. It is a dollar that could fuel trade, tourism and cultural exchange.”
The campaign aims to meet with heads of state, policymakers, business leaders and communities in all 39 countries, advocating for the removal of travel restrictions that continue to block free movement across the continent. Mr Mubarak, a former Member of Parliament in Ghana, said that the visa requirements are a painful reminder of colonial borders that remain intact long after independence.
“Why must I pay to visit my brother in another neighbourhood?” he said.
“Even Europe has moved beyond visa barriers, but in Africa, we are still shackled by bureaucracy.”
He applauded recent decisions by Ghana and Kenya to remove visa requirements for other African nationals. Ghana made the announcement in December 2024 and Kenya followed in July 2025, giving almost all African citizens full visa-free access.
Rwanda, Seychelles and The Gambia have also eased travel restrictions, but most African countries still enforce rigid visa regimes.
Mr Mubarak said the Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign will amplify calls for reform using digital platforms and mainstream media.
He urged African governments to urgently support the mission by easing visa processes and embracing reciprocal access and called on private sector partners to sponsor fuel, accommodation and vehicle maintenance.
“To Africa’s leaders, I make this passionate appeal — embrace our call and act now,” he said.
“The time for half-measures is over. Tear down visa barriers and build bridges between our nations.”
The campaign estimates that free movement could boost intra-African trade by 109 percent by 2035 under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Mr Mubarak said that beyond economics, the initiative is about restoring unity and pride across the continent.
“We are not just asking for change. We are taking action to make it happen. But we need every African to stand with us to create a continent where visas are a thing of the past,” he said.
The team’s journey, set to begin on August 18, will cover more than 600 hours of driving and aims to reach millions through in-person engagements and media coverage.
Online Reporter