AGI pushes for visa-free Africa to unlock intra-trade

The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Tsonam Akpeloo, has renewed calls for a visa-free regime across Africa, describing it as critical to accelerating intra-African trade and investment flows.

Mr. Akpeloo expressed concern over what he called the onerous visa requirements faced by African business leaders travelling across the continent, noting that the need to secure multiple visas remains a major disincentive to cross-border trade and business expansion.

Speaking in an interview after the 2026 African Prosperity Dialogues on Friday, February 6, 2026, he urged African governments to prioritise the free movement of people, arguing that it is a foundational pillar of effective regional integration.

“Travelling within Africa has become extremely difficult because of visa requirements imposed by different African countries. In some cases, it is easier for a Caribbean national to travel within Africa than for an African,” he said.
Mr. Akpeloo described the situation as a significant structural barrier to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stressing that free movement of goods and services cannot be achieved without the free movement of people.

“Even Aliko Dangote, with all his capacity and influence across the continent, reportedly requires more than 35 visas to travel within Africa. That is not acceptable,” he added.

He called on African leaders to take immediate and decisive action to eliminate visa requirements among African countries, insisting that no African citizen should require a visa to enter another African state if the continent is serious about boosting trade, industrialisation, and economic integration.

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