Her Excellency Ambassador Imane Ouaadil, Ambassador of the Royal Kingdom of Morocco, and Dean of African Ambassadors and High Commissioners in Ghana, recently shared with me an iconic photograph from the 1961 Casablanca Summit, capturing a historic moment.
The summit was attended by Gamal Abdel Nasser (United Arab Republic, now Egypt), Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Ahmed Sékou Touré (Guinea), Modibo Keita (Mali), and King Mohammed V (Morocco).
These visionary leaders gathered to lay the foundation for a united Africa, dreaming of a continent unbound by colonial borders, where free movement and economic integration would uplift every citizen. Their bold vision, rooted in pan-Africanism, remains a beacon of hope and a call to action for us today.
That is why, on August 18, 2025, the Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign will embark on a 40,000 km journey through 39 African countries, advocating for a visa-free Africa now.
This five-month odyssey, fully endorsed by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeks to reignite the spirit of 1961 and push for the immediate implementation of policies that unite our continent.
Yet, the dangers of inertia loom large. African governments can no longer afford to wait. Decades of delay have left our borders fragmented, stifling trade, tourism, and the free exchange of ideas that could propel us into a prosperous future.
The cost of inaction is steep—missed economic opportunities, youth unemployment, and a perpetuation of colonial divides that weaken our collective strength.
The longer we hesitate, the more we risk falling behind a globalized world that demands mobility and integration. Visa restrictions burden our people with bureaucratic hurdles, discourage intra-African tourism, and hinder the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) from reaching its full potential.
Each year of delay deepens the isolation of our nations, eroding the unity our forefathers fought for. The time for excuses is over; the time for action is now.
A visa-free Africa is not a distant dream but an urgent necessity to unlock our continent’s vast human and natural resources.
I appeal to Africans at home and abroad to join this crusade. Your support can transform this vision into reality. For five months—from August 18, 2025, to January 27, 2026—we will drive across the continent, engaging governments, communities, and media to demand open borders and economic integration. Your contributions, whether financial, logistical, or through advocacy, will fuel this campaign. Together, we can honor the 1961 pioneers and secure a united, prosperous Africa for generations to come.
The countries we will visit are:
Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and end in Ghana.
Let us rise as one Africa, united in purpose and action. Support the Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign today—your voice and resources can drive us toward a visa-free, thriving continent. Together, we will fulfill the legacy of Nkrumah, Nasser, and their peers.
#OpenAfrica #OpenOpportunities #AfricaMustUnite
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