Leaders of African social movements have reignited calls for a borderless continent, urging African governments to implement policies that allow citizens to move freely across the region for work, study, and improved living conditions.
Speaking at the Third African Social Movements Baraza (conference) in Accra on Monday, participants emphasized that dismantling intra-African travel barriers would not only promote human connection but also enhance trade, cooperation, and shared development.
Organised by TrustAfrica in partnership with the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), the three-day conference brought together grassroots organisations from across the continent to strategize around social justice, solidarity, and democratic engagement.
“Even within our own continent, Africans struggle to travel and connect with one another,” said Mr. Ebrima Sall, Executive Director of TrustAfrica. “We need policies that make mobility easier—not harder. If visas are necessary, let’s make the process accessible and efficient.”
He added that the inability to move freely within Africa severely hampers not just personal opportunity but broader regional integration.
Madam Vera Abena Addo, Programmes Officer at CDD-Ghana, highlighted the critical role social movements play in shaping good governance and urged stronger partnerships between civil society, think tanks, and governments.
“It’s time we recognize the value of these movements in pushing for democratic values and social equity,” she said.
The Baraza conference also tackled issues like organizing strategies, sustainable funding for grassroots activism, and the need for unified continental advocacy on pressing economic and social challenges. Participants left with a shared resolve to push harder for a united, mobile, and inclusive Africa.
