The Africa Prosperity Network (APN) has welcomed Togo’s decision to grant visa-free entry to all African citizens, describing it as a significant milestone in the continent’s drive toward deeper integration and the realisation of a borderless Africa.

In a statement issued in Accra on May 20, 2026, APN said Togo’s policy, which allows 30-day visa-free access for holders of valid African passports effective May 18, 2026, reinforces growing momentum behind the “Make Africa Borderless Now” campaign.

The organisation noted that the decision marks a shift from policy aspiration to practical implementation, reflecting what it described as increasing political commitment to continental integration.

According to APN, Togo becomes the latest African country to adopt full visa-free access for African citizens, joining Rwanda, Benin, The Gambia, Seychelles, and Ghana. Ghana is expected to roll out its own visa-free policy on May 25, 2026.

Founder and Executive Chairman of APN, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, commended the development, stating that it signals a growing willingness among African leaders to move integration from rhetoric into action.

He said the expansion of visa-free travel across the continent demonstrates that regional integration is becoming an urgent priority rather than a distant aspiration.

However, APN cautioned that progress remains slow, citing data from the African Development Bank’s Visa Openness Index, which shows that only 28.2% of intra-African travel routes are currently visa-free.

It also noted that only a small number of countries have ratified the African Union’s Free Movement Protocol adopted in 2018.

The organisation argued that restrictive visa regimes continue to limit trade, mobility, and economic opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), despite Africa’s broader integration agenda.

APN further urged African governments to accelerate the implementation of free movement protocols, stressing that improved mobility could significantly boost economic growth across the continent.

As part of its advocacy efforts, the Network announced plans to host a webinar on May 25, 2026, under the theme “Confronting Afrophobia Through Economic Integration: Advancing a Visa-Free Africa for Africans to Move, Connect and Trade Freely.”

 

The event is expected to bring together policymakers, civil society actors, and business leaders to advance discussions on borderless trade and mobility across Africa.