Free Movement Key to Unlocking Africa’s Market Potential — Julius Debrah

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 held in Accra on Friday, February 6, under the theme “Empowering SMEs, Women and Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate, Collaborate and Trade.”

Mr. Debrah highlighted the challenges 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 cited the experience of former Member of Parliament Ras Mubarak and a group of young men who embarked on a Pan-African tour advocating for a visa-free Africa. Despite their ambition, the group managed to visit only 31 countries after applying for 12 different visas, with one application reportedly taking as long as three months to process.

“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.

He added that relaxed travel restrictions would enable entrepreneurs, youth, and small businesses to tap into opportunities beyond their home countries and scale their operations across Africa.

According to him, 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 stakeholders to prioritise the free movement agenda, insisting it is central to unlocking Africa’s economic potential and empowering women, youth, and small and medium-sized enterprises across the continent.