Social change campaigners have urged African governments to fully embrace the borderless Africa concept in unleashing the continent’s potential.
It was the activists’ belief that the concept will remain a pipe dream and a far-fetched idea if African leaders turn a blind eye to it.
“It is high time we take it on board, bearing in mind that an integrated and borderless Africa that would foster economic growth and development,” observed PidenamSama, from Togo on the sidelines of the just-ended All African Movement Assembly (AAMA) held at the MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation (MS TCDC) here midweek.
The Togolese social campaigner insisted that Visa requirements introduced by a great deal of African countries were preventing citizens from traversing the continent to trade and social interactions.
“We are Africans being unwelcoming to fellow brothers and sisters,” he queried.
A recent African Union (AU) report found that Africans can travel without a visa to just 22 per cent of other African countries.
It is only Seychelles, The Gambia, and Benin that offer completely visa-free access to all African passport holders.
Ghanaian Ernesto Yeboah from the Economic Fighters League (EFL) challenged fellow social campaigners not to relent in the quest for change.
MrYeboah who is revered for the ‘drop that chamber’ chant which was a protest to the proposed construction of a 450 member chamber urged Africans to remain firm and true in pursuit of social change that will benefit Africans.
“It is very gratifying to see how the chant got well received in other parts of the continent and the government gave in, we need to remain united and strong in such movements,” he said.
The three-day convening, a largest gathering of social movements, activists, civil society in Africa and the diaspora brought together over 750 people for a hybrid conversation.
It sought at affording Africans the opportunity to engage on critical issues affecting Africans.
