WEF, AfDB call for relaxation of visa restrictions throughout Africa

 A high level panel organized jointly by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the African  Development Bank (AfDB) during the AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Marrakech, Morocco have discussed the benefits of relaxing visa restrictions throughout Africa.

Dr. Ibrahim Bocar Ba, ECOWAS Commissioner of macroeconomic policy, underlined the fact that Africans mainly migrate to Africa. In ECOWAS more than 80% of all migration is intra-regional. Nonetheless, Africans need visas to go to 80% of African countries, these restrictions are higher for Africans traveling within Africa than for Europeans and North Americans, a press release issued on June 1, 2013 has said.

Leonard Rugwabiza, Director, General Planning at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Rwanda, shared the lessons of Rwanda, which has moved to biometrix border management, low restrictions on transfer of services in engineering and legal services as well as visas on arrival for all African citizens since January 1, 2013. Rwanda, with a limited number of embassies abroad, has also introduced e-visas in order to reduce the costs and time constraints of people in obtaining visas.

“Since we opened our borders, tourism from African countries has increased by 24%.” Furthermore, “trade actually shifted from being oriented to Europe and North America, and is now oriented to neighbouring countries. Trade with neighbouring countries increased by 50% last year, and trade with neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo rose by 73%,” he added.

Board Member of Dabashill Group, Abdul Awl noted that, “The private sector is the engine of growth, and we all talk about improving the climate for business sector. Visas are a major barrier, and pose restrictions on doing business.”

By Dorcas Appiah