Accra, Ghana, 27 July 2026 – The Africa Prosperity Network (APN) Secretariat stands by MTN Ghana Chairman Dr Ishmael Yamson’s powerful call at the Kgalema Mandela Winter Seminar 2026 in Johannesburg that “Africa’s transformation depends on the free movement of people, skills and ideas across borders.”
As Chairman of Africa’s largest telecom operator, Dr Yamson articulates a vision grounded in operational reality. Visa restrictions, fragmented labour markets, and bureaucratic barriers to mobility drain billions in potential across the continent. When talent flows freely, and ideas cross borders without restriction, Africa’s prosperity multiplies.
This message aligns precisely with the Make Africa Borderless Now! movement, our flagship push for a visa-free Africa where entrepreneurs, innovators, and talent can thrive across borders.
Why This Matters
Speaking from operational depth, Dr Yamson sees the cost of fragmentation daily: visa chaos, work permit restrictions, talent drain, and missed opportunities. Young professionals, 70% of the continent under 30, choose between limited opportunity at home or leaving Africa entirely. Companies cannot fully exploit AfCFTA because bureaucratic barriers persist.
A truly prosperous Africa cannot emerge from 54 isolated economies. And Dr Yamson understands this. When business leaders of his continental reach articulate this imperative, African governments must listen.
The Path Forward
Dr. Yamson’s call is embedded in Agenda 2063 and AfCFTA frameworks, but implementation lags. Visa requirements persist. Work permits remain restrictive. The bureaucratic cost is billions annually.
The Africa Prosperity Network amplifies voices like Dr Yamson’s through the Make Africa Borderless Now! movement, gathering signatures and building momentum across the continent for a visa-free Africa. Together with business leaders and civil society, we are creating the political and people-powered movement to make borderless Africa real.
The Numbers Back It Up
The World Bank estimates that full AfCFTA implementation could add $450 billion to Africa’s annual GDP by 2035, but only with complementary free movement of labour and talent. Today, a trader cannot exploit tariff reductions, an engineer cannot cross borders to execute continental projects, and a tech founder cannot build pan-African platforms because mobility is cumbersome.
With 70% of the continent under 30, this is our demographic window. Integrate or watch talent flee to the diaspora. The timeline is now.
What Happens Next
We call on African governments to fast-track free movement protocols and labour mobility frameworks. We call on the private sector, led by leaders like Dr Yamson, to advocate for integration within your supply chains and operations. We, therefore, invite African citizens to join the Make Africa Borderless Now! movement: Sign our petition, share your story, and demand action from your leaders.
Join the Make Africa Borderless Now! Movement and sign the petition at www.makeafricaborderlessnow.com
Nkrumah said: Unite or perish. The choice is still ours.