Ghanaian travel content creator and Pan-African advocate Wode Maya has called for intensified public education on Africa’s free movement agenda, warning that widespread misinformation continues to distort public understanding of visa liberalisation policies across the continent.
Speaking during the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) webinar on Monday (25 May), Wode Maya said many Africans still misunderstand the scope and intent of visa-free and borderless integration initiatives, often assuming they imply unrestricted entry without regulation.
He stressed that existing bilateral agreements between countries remain valid even under broader visa reform frameworks, adding that Ghana’s current move toward an electronic visa system does not automatically override established diplomatic arrangements.
“If there’s already a bilateral that you don’t need to apply for visa, that should apply,” he said, while noting that he had not yet reviewed the full technical details of Ghana’s proposed system.
Wode Maya described Ghana’s shift toward an e-visa regime as “a step in the right direction,” arguing that it could improve processing times and boost tourism, particularly for travellers who previously had to apply in third countries such as the United States.
He noted that the proposed system—reportedly allowing approvals within 48 hours—could reduce travel bottlenecks, even if applicants are still required to submit online applications.
However, he emphasised that African travellers should ultimately not require visas to move within the continent, describing visa-free mobility as a long-term objective.
“I have been championing visa-free or borderless Africa for a very long time,” he said.
ECOWAS experience cited in debate over migration fears
Wode Maya also pushed back against concerns that visa liberalisation would trigger uncontrolled migration, citing long-standing regional arrangements in West Africa as evidence to the contrary.
He referenced the 1979 ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, which allows citizens of member states to travel across the region without visas.
“Ghanaians forget that we have free movement for Nigerians, Ivorians, Senegalese… since 1979,” he said.
According to him, the arrangement has not resulted in mass influxes or instability, but rather demonstrates that regulated free movement facilitates mobility without overwhelming host countries.
He argued that public fears about migration are often driven by misinformation rather than empirical evidence, noting that migration patterns under ECOWAS have remained relatively stable over decades.
Calls for education on borderless Africa concept
The YouTuber and digital storyteller further urged African institutions and advocates to prioritise civic education on integration policies, saying misconceptions remain widespread across the continent.
“90% of Africans don’t understand what borderless Africa is all about,” he said, adding that greater awareness was necessary to counter fears about immigration and security.
He said many citizens incorrectly assume borderless integration means unrestricted entry without border checks, stressing that movement still takes place through official ports of entry under regulated systems.
Wode Maya cited Rwanda as an example of a country balancing openness with security, noting that despite its visa-free policy for Africans, it maintains strict border screening and monitoring systems.
He also referenced the economic case for intra-African travel, pointing to Rwanda’s reported tourism revenues, which he said illustrate the potential gains from easing mobility restrictions across the continent.
Security concerns and public perception
Wode Maya acknowledged that public resistance to visa-free proposals is often linked to concerns about national security and pressure on public services, but argued that these fears are manageable with proper systems.
He said countries such as Rwanda demonstrate that openness and security are not mutually exclusive, citing biometric controls and surveillance systems as tools that can support safe mobility.
He concluded that Africa’s integration agenda will only succeed if governments and advocates invest more in public understanding, rather than focusing solely on policy announcements.
“People don’t understand it. That education is necessary,” he said.
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