Former Kumbungu Member of Parliament and Borderless Africa advocate Ras Mubarak says fear and suspicion among Africans remain major obstacles to continental integration and free movement across Africa.
Speaking in an interview on A1 Radio, Ras Mubarak said many Africans have been conditioned to view fellow Africans as threats rather than brothers and sisters, undermining efforts to build a united and prosperous continent.
“The African has been programmed to fear his fellow African brother or sister instead of seeing them as family,” he stated.
He condemned xenophobic attacks in some African countries, particularly South Africa, where foreign Africans have at times faced violence and hostility over migration concerns.
According to him, Africans must reject the perception that fellow Africans are inherently criminals while assuming that foreigners from outside the continent are always well-intentioned.
Ras Mubarak cited a recent incident involving a foreign national accused of illegally recording and posting explicit videos of African women online for profit, saying such cases demonstrate that criminality is not unique to Africans.
He argued that colonial borders continue to divide people who share deep historical, linguistic, and cultural ties.
“But for the colonial borders drawn in 1884 and 1885, we are largely one people,” he said, noting similarities across communities in countries such as Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.
The former lawmaker also criticized visa restrictions that make intra-African travel difficult, saying they hinder trade, tourism, and job creation.
He disclosed that it took his team three months to secure a visa to Botswana, while Mauritania denied them visas on three occasions during their road trip across Africa.
Ras Mubarak said such barriers discourage economic cooperation and people-to-people exchange across the continent.
Addressing concerns that open borders could increase crime, he argued that governments should instead strengthen security systems rather than restrict movement among Africans.
He called for the use of technology such as biometric systems, drones, and improved border security training to enhance safety while maintaining free movement.
Ras Mubarak urged African leaders to adopt visa-free policies and deepen regional cooperation to advance economic growth and continental unity.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
