Mahama Calls for Visa-Free Travel, African Standby Force, and Renewed Pan-Africanism

President John Dramani Mahama has called for deeper African unity, urging leaders across the continent to remove the barriers that still restrict the free movement of African citizens and to recommit to the ideals of Pan-Africanism.

Speaking in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the historic Fifth Pan-African Congress on Tuesday night 18th November, 2025 in Accra, Mahama lamented that Africans still require visas to travel to each other’s countries — a reality he described as incompatible with the continent’s collective aspirations.

“Isn’t it a shame that we still have to travel to each other’s countries asking for a visa?” he said.

Mahama stressed that Africa must move decisively toward establishing an African Standby Force, enhancing peacekeeping capacity, and prioritizing conflict resolution across the continent. He also called for a comprehensive reform of global financial institutions to reflect contemporary global realities and to stop disadvantaging developing nations.

He emphasized that regional bodies like ECOWAS and other regional economic communities must be strengthened to serve the interests of ordinary Africans, rather than political elites.

“Africa must insist on an African standby force, peacekeeping capacity and conflict resolution; reform of the global financial institutions to reflect today’s realities; protection of constitutional order and democratic governance; strengthening ECOWAS and other RECs to serve people and not political elites,” Mahama declared.

President Mahama underscored that Pan-Africanism is not merely historical nostalgia, but a dynamic and evolving movement whose purpose is to uplift every African life.

“Pan-Africanism is not merely the memories of our heroes past. It is a living, breathing movement — a commitment to uplift every African life, even as our new generation of Pan-Africanists engage external actors to create a new global order in which Africans can reclaim their dignity and prosper.”

He charged current African leaders to govern with transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights. Corruption, inequality, and poor economic management, he warned, undermine both national and continental progress.

“We must manage our economies efficiently and transparently to create equal opportunity for all our people. We must eschew corruption and govern accountably. We must protect and respect the rights and freedoms of our people.”

He also called for solidarity among African nations in the collective effort to silence the guns and ensure peace and security across the continent.

Reflecting on the legacy of the 1945 Pan-African Congress in Manchester, he reminded Africans of the enduring principle that the continent’s future must be defined by its own people.

“Africans will determine Africa’s destiny — not by external forces, not by global markets, not by geopolitical competition, but by the courage, creativity and the unity of the African people.”

Marking the historic anniversary, he urged Africans of all backgrounds — leaders, intellectuals, workers, youth, women, and elders — to recommit to building a prosperous, peaceful, and united continent.

“Let this anniversary ignite in us a renewed sense of purpose. Let it strengthen our resolve to build a prosperous, peaceful, united and dignified Africa. The dream of Pan-Africanism must live on, and together, we shall make it real.”