Founder and Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, Gabby Asare Otchere‑Darko, has announced plans to launch a continent‑wide campaign for visa‑free travel at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2026, set to take place from 4–6 February 2026 in Accra, Ghana.
Speaking on Joy FM’s AM Show, Gabby Otchere‑Darko said the “Make Africa Borderless Now” movement will aim to collect 10 million signatures from Africans and people of African descent across the continent and the diaspora to push for freer movement and economic integration.
“We want to do something differently. What we want is to launch what we call the Make Africa Borderless Now Movement at APD 2026,” he told hosts, outlining the scope of the initiative. “We are seeking to secure 10 million signatures… to tell the scale and the urgency of the issues before us.”
Otchere‑Darko explained that the campaign’s goals go beyond visa‑free travel to include improved interoperability across the continent. He cited proposals for a common biometric ID and full implementation of the Pan‑African Payments Settlement (PAPs) system, measures he said would facilitate movement while addressing security concerns.
“When you say free borders, some think it will compromise security,” he said. “But now the people who are benefiting without the free borders are more criminals. The serious business people are hampered by the bureaucracy of getting their visa.”
APD 2026 is themed “Empowering Women and Youth in the Single Market: Innovate, Collaborate, Trade” and will bring together policymakers, business leaders and civil society to discuss inclusive economic growth under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com