Tourism
AU Advances Push for Universal African Passport, Aims for Wider Access by 2026
The African Union (AU) is accelerating efforts to expand access to the African Passport, a flagship initiative aimed at deepening continental integration by enabling Africans to travel, live, work and invest across the continent with reduced restrictions.
Officials and experts say everyday Africans could begin benefiting from the passport as early as 2026–2027, marking a major milestone in efforts to promote freedom of movement across Africa.
First introduced in 2016 at the AU Summit in Kigali, the African Passport initially served heads of state, diplomats and AU officials as a symbolic step toward seamless continental mobility.
The passport is one of the Agenda 2063 flagship projects, designed to complement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and drive economic development, integration and people-to-people connectivity across Africa.
From Diplomats to Ordinary Citizens
While the African Passport exists in limited form for select officials, broader rollout is tied to the AU Free Movement of Persons Protocol — a continental agreement adopted in 2018 that envisions visa-free travel and residency rights for all Africans. To enter into force, the protocol requires ratification by at least 15 AU member states, but only a handful have done so to date, slowing implementation.
Recognizing the barriers, the AU and partners recently held high-level coordination meetings — including a strategic session in Accra — to galvanize member states around ratification and implementation of the protocol’s provisions, which would lay the legal groundwork for everyday citizens to use the African Passport.

Why It Matters
Proponents argue that a universal African Passport could be transformative for the continent. Free movement of people is expected to boost intra-Africa trade, strengthen labor mobility, expand tourism, and enhance investment opportunities — all key pillars of the Agenda 2063 vision of a politically united and economically integrated Africa.
“At its core, free movement of persons and the African Passport are central to African unity, economic growth and shared prosperity,” notes policy documents from the AU Commission.
Challenges Still Ahead
Despite momentum, significant hurdles remain. Many member states have yet to align national laws with the Free Movement Protocol, and some express concerns over security, immigration management and the economic implications of unhindered mobility. Experts and AU partners are urging faster ratification, pointing to the need for political will and policy harmonization.
Still, optimism persists. AU officials and civil society groups emphasize that public support, advocacy and engagement will be critical to ensuring the passport’s success. Regional initiatives, such as visa-free policies already adopted by countries including Ghana, Rwanda, Benin, and The Gambia, offer early models of what a continent-wide system could look like.
If implementation stays on track, the historic milestone of a more accessible African Passport could arrive within the next two years — a tangible step toward actualizing the long-held Pan-African ideal of freedom of movement for all Africans.
Sights and Sounds
From Wli to Tagbo: Discover the Waterfall Trails That Define Ghana’s Volta Region
In Ghana’s Volta Region, the journey is just as rewarding as the destination. Here, waterfall hopping isn’t simply a day trip—it’s an invitation to experience some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes, where forest trails, mountain scenery, and cascading water come together unforgettably.
Among the region’s many natural treasures, Wli Waterfalls stands apart. Tumbling nearly 1,600 feet from the cliffs of the Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary, it is the tallest waterfall in West Africa and one of Ghana’s most celebrated attractions.
Reaching the lower falls requires a scenic 40-minute walk through lush vegetation, with butterflies fluttering overhead and birds providing a constant soundtrack.
For more adventurous hikers, the steep two-to-three-hour climb to the upper falls offers dramatic views and a quieter encounter with nature.
But Wli is only one chapter in the Volta Region’s waterfall story. The equally captivating Tsatsadu Falls, tucked within the mountain communities near Liati Wote, rewards visitors with peaceful surroundings and refreshing pools after a moderate trek.
Nearby, Tagbo Falls offers another distinctive experience, where a gentle forest walk leads to a striking cascade framed by dense greenery.
Together, these waterfalls reveal why the Volta Region has become one of Ghana’s leading eco-tourism destinations. Each trail introduces visitors to thriving forests, welcoming rural communities, and landscapes that remain remarkably unspoiled.
For international travellers, waterfall hopping provides a chance to discover a side of Ghana often overshadowed by its bustling cities and historic coastline.
For Ghanaians, it is a reminder that some of the country’s greatest treasures lie hidden among the eastern highlands, waiting to be explored one trail—and one waterfall—at a time.
Taste GH
Rich, Creamy and Unforgettable: The Story Behind Ghana’s Beloved Groundnut Soup
Few dishes capture the warmth of Ghanaian hospitality quite like a steaming bowl of groundnut soup. Rich, velvety, and bursting with the natural flavour of roasted peanuts, it is the kind of meal that brings families together and turns an ordinary lunch into an occasion worth remembering.
Prepared from blended groundnuts—known as peanuts in many parts of the world—the soup develops a creamy texture that balances savoury spices with a subtle nutty sweetness. Tomatoes, onions, ginger and garlic create an aromatic base, while local spices deepen its flavour.
Depending on regional traditions and family recipes, the soup may feature chicken, goat, beef, smoked fish or fresh fish, each adding its own character to the pot.
Groundnut soup is perhaps best known as the perfect companion to fufu, whose smooth, elastic texture effortlessly soaks up every spoonful of the rich broth.
@cheflifestyle_ How do make your groundnut soup? Let’s make my mom’s special groundnut soup whiles I tell you a story I believe if we all wanted to stick to only what we know there wouldn’t be the need to follow food bloggers. I’ve seen so many variations of groundnut soup recipes online and they all look very good! Also can you guys spot my commercial blender from @All Needs It blends everything so well! Let me know if anyone does their groundnut soup like this? I’d not how different is yours? We are all here to learn from each other. Also do you add momone to your groundnut soup? . . . . #groundnutsoup #peanutbuttersoup #ghfoods ♬ Ogechi (feat. Davido) [Remix] – BoyPee & Hyce & Brown Joel
Others enjoy it with rice balls, creating a combination that is equally filling and deeply satisfying. Across Ghana, these pairings are cherished comfort foods, appearing at family gatherings, festive celebrations and Sunday lunches.
Its popularity extends beyond taste alone. Groundnuts are naturally rich in plant-based protein, healthy fats, vitamin E and magnesium, making the soup a nourishing meal that delivers both flavour and nutritional value.
Combined with fresh ingredients and lean protein, it offers a wholesome balance that has earned its place in kitchens across generations.
For visitors discovering Ghanaian cuisine for the first time, groundnut soup is more than a traditional dish—it is an introduction to the country’s culinary heritage.
Every fragrant bowl tells a story of family, culture, and the simple joy of sharing a meal, making it one of Ghana’s most treasured recipes and a favourite that continues to win hearts far beyond its borders.
Sights and Sounds
The Twi-Dubbing Revolution: What Ghana’s Love Affair with Foreign Telenovelas Says About Local Storytelling
One of Ghana’s most remarkable television success stories did not begin in a studio in Accra. It arrived from thousands of kilometres away—complete with elaborate weddings, family feuds and endless cliffhangers.
Yet what transformed these imported dramas into a national obsession was not where they came from, but how they were retold.
For many Ghanaians, the memory is instantly familiar. A dramatic scene appears on screen, but instead of Hindi, the actors speak fluent Twi. Mothers pause their evening chores, taxi drivers debate the latest betrayal, and hair salons turn up the television so everyone can follow the unfolding drama.
Somehow, stories produced for audiences in India suddenly felt as though they belonged in Kumasi, Accra, or Sunyani.
The phenomenon began in the early 2010s when Ghanaian television stations searched for affordable but engaging programming. Indian, Mexican, and Philippine telenovelas offered gripping plots and large episode catalogues.
The real breakthrough, however, came when broadcasters invested in local-language dubbing.
Rather than translating dialogue word for word, Ghanaian voice actors and scriptwriters adapted conversations into expressions that resonated with local audiences. Proverbs replaced literal translations.
Humour reflects everyday Ghanaian life. Arguments sounded like family disputes overheard in neighbourhood compounds. The result was something far more powerful than translation—it became cultural adaptation.
Series such as Kumkum Bhagya gained devoted followings, proving that audiences respond as much to emotional authenticity as they do to familiar settings. Characters became household names, and fictional families were discussed with the same passion reserved for real-life celebrities.
The popularity of Twi-dubbed television also demonstrated the remarkable flexibility of language. It showed that storytelling can cross continents when adapted with care and cultural understanding.
Viewers were not simply consuming foreign entertainment; they were experiencing stories through a distinctly Ghanaian lens.
Yet the success of these productions raises an important question about the country’s creative future.
If Ghana possesses the talent to reinterpret international dramas so effectively, could that same creativity produce original television series capable of captivating audiences both at home and abroad?
The country’s film and television industry already has the ingredients: accomplished actors, skilled voice artists, compelling oral traditions, and generations of storytellers.
The enthusiastic audiences showed for dubbed dramas suggest there is an equally strong appetite for locally produced stories that reflect contemporary Ghanaian life while maintaining the emotional intensity viewers have come to enjoy.
The legacy of the Twi-dubbing era extends beyond entertainment. It proved that language is more than a communication tool—it is a bridge between cultures.
It also reminded broadcasters and filmmakers that audiences value stories that feel emotionally familiar, regardless of where they originate.
Perhaps the next television phenomenon will not begin with an imported script waiting to be translated. It will begin with a Ghanaian story, told in a Ghanaian voice, and shared confidently with the rest of the world.
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