Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has renewed calls for the removal of visa restrictions across Africa, stressing that the free movement of people is essential to boosting trade, innovation, and economic growth on the continent.
He made the call while speaking at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2026 in Accra on Friday, February 6. The forum was held under the theme “Empowering SMEs, Women and Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate, Collaborate and Trade.”
Mr Debrah drew attention to the difficulties African entrepreneurs and young people face when travelling across the continent, noting that multiple visa requirements continue to hinder business expansion and cross-border collaboration.
To illustrate his point, he referenced the experience of former Member of Parliament Ras Mubarak and a group of young men who embarked on a Pan-African tour to advocate for a visa-free Africa.
Despite the ambition of the initiative, the group was only able to visit 31 countries, having to apply for 12 different visas. In one instance, they reportedly waited as long as three months for a visa response.
“Using today, we need to drum home the importance of making free movement on the continent so as to encourage the wider market we are looking for,” Mr Debrah said, adding that relaxed travel restrictions would allow entrepreneurs, youth, and small businesses to fully tap into opportunities beyond their home countries.
He noted that easing visa barriers aligns with the broader objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to establish a single market for goods, services, capital, and people to drive investment, growth, and intra-African trade.
Mr Debrah urged policymakers, regional institutions, and key stakeholders to prioritise the free movement agenda, insisting that it remains central to unlocking Africa’s economic potential and empowering women, youth, and small and medium-sized enterprises across the continent.
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