Dangote says visa barriers within Africa are holding back investment

Pinned summary · as of 15:53

Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, has told African leaders that entry restrictions between the continent's own countries discourage investment. He spoke on the margins of the Accra Reset, a gathering hosted by President John Dramani Mahama during the UN General Assembly, on Monday, 21 September.

What we know

• Mr Dangote made the remarks around the Accra Reset, an event President Mahama hosted as world leaders gathered for the UN General Assembly on 21 September, a Monday.
• He argued that tighter visa rules between African states put off investors, and that letting people cross borders more easily would help draw investment.
• Questioning why he should put money into a country he cannot enter freely, Mr Dangote asked: "If I am not going to have a visa in Africa, why should I invest?"
• He said years of talk about visas and free movement should now give way to action.
• Mr Dangote also asked why an African faces more hurdles travelling in Africa than a European visitor does.
• He said the continent's development is a job for Africans themselves, not for outsiders.
• In his view, governments should not let security worries stall deeper integration, and he said security agencies have frightened many of the continent's political leaders.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Onua Online reported that Mr Dangote accepted that governments often cite security concerns for keeping visa controls, but said these should not block legitimate travel by Africans; no other report carried this detail.
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  Nkonkonsa reported that Mr Dangote added a comparison between what an African and any well-informed person could do to cause trouble; the remark did not appear in other reports and its exact meaning is not spelt out.

Why it matters for Ghana

Visa rules shape where Ghanaian and other African traders, manufacturers and investors can do business without extra paperwork and cost. Mr Dangote's comments, made at an event hosted by President Mahama, add a prominent business voice to the debate on free movement across the continent. The reports do not mention any change in visa rules.