Tourism
Beyond the Headlines: What Ex Legislator Ras Mubarak’s 40,000km Journey Reveals About the Real Cost of Africa’s Borders
In the months since former MP Ras Mubarak completed his 160-day, 40,000-kilometer road journey through 31 African countries, the euphoria of his return has faded.
But the questions his trip raised about the practical cost of maintaining colonial-era borders remain urgently unanswered.
Mubarak’s odyssey—undertaken to advocate for a visa-free Africa—was always about more than personal endurance. It was a rolling case study in how fragmentation continues to hold the continent back.
The Price of Paper
Behind the political rhetoric about pan-African unity lies a mundane reality that Mubarak’s team experienced at every border: time, money, and opportunity lost to bureaucratic fragmentation.

The African Development Bank estimates that removing visa requirements could boost intra-African trade by up to 25% within five years. Currently, African countries trade only about 15% of their goods with each other, compared to approximately 60% in Europe and 40% in North America.
For the ordinary African traveler or trader, the cost is personal. Visas cost money. Delays cost time. Informal border payments—sometimes euphemistically called “facilitation fees”—add unpredictability to already thin profit margins.
Infrastructure as Integration
Mubarak’s team witnessed the continent’s infrastructure disparities firsthand—smooth highways in some nations giving way to punishing potholes in others. The physical state of roads, they noted, often reflected political commitment to connectivity.
“When you cross from a country with well-maintained roads into one where infrastructure has crumbled, you’re seeing the legacy of policy choices,” one team member observed during the journey. “Roads don’t just move people. They move goods, ideas, and opportunity.”
The Nkrumah Question
Throughout the journey, Mubarak repeatedly invoked Kwame Nkrumah’s warning that without political unification, Africa would remain economically dependent. Sixty years after Nkrumah’s overthrow, the question lingers: what would the continent look like if his vision had been implemented?
Historians note that Nkrumah understood borders as economic weapons—tools that kept African markets small, bargaining power weak, and dependency entrenched. His push for continental government was not idealism; it was economic strategy.
Agenda 2063 and the Window of Opportunity
The African Union’s Agenda 2063 explicitly calls for “a continent with seamless borders” and “free movement of people, goods, services and capital.”
But timelines are slipping. The target of a continent-wide African passport by 2020 was missed. The goal of visa-free travel for all African citizens remains aspirational in practice, even as countries like Rwanda, Seychelles, and The Gambia have moved toward open borders.
Mubarak’s report to President Mahama lands at a pivotal moment. With Mahama nominated by ECOWAS for the African Union Commission chairmanship race in 2027, Ghana has an opportunity to champion border openness from a position of continental leadership.
The View from the Ground
For the small business owners, cross-border traders, and families separated by colonial lines whom Mubarak’s team encountered, the issue is not theoretical. A woman selling vegetables across the Ghana-Togo border. A truck driver waiting days for clearance between Kenya and Uganda. A student unable to attend a university in a neighboring country because of visa delays.
These are the faces behind the statistics. And they are the reason Mubarak insists that border abolition is not merely political symbolism—it is economic necessity.
A Legacy Unfinished
As the months since his return stretch on, Mubarak continues to press the message that emerged from 40,000 kilometers of African road: the borders are artificial, the costs are real, and the political will to change must come from within.
“The road trip ended,” he reflected recently. “The journey hasn’t.”
Taste GH
Soft, Satisfying, and Deeply Rooted: Discover the Comfort of Tuo Zaafi
Some dishes do more than satisfy hunger—they tell the story of a people.
In northern Ghana, Tuo Zaafi, affectionately known as TZ, is one such meal, bringing together tradition, nourishment, and a sense of home in every serving.
Prepared from millet or maize flour, Tuo Zaafi has a remarkably smooth, velvety texture that sets it apart from many staple foods across West Africa.
It is carefully stirred over heat until it reaches a soft consistency, making it ideal for soaking up the rich flavours of the soups it accompanies.
The true magic of TZ lies in what surrounds it. It is most commonly paired with a vibrant green soup made from fresh leafy vegetables such as ayoyo or alefu, often enriched with local spices, tomatoes, onions, and sometimes tender cuts of beef, goat, fish, or guinea fowl.
The result is a meal that is earthy, savoury, and deeply comforting. Each spoonful balances the mild taste of the TZ with the fragrant, slightly slippery texture of the greens, creating a combination that generations of Ghanaians have cherished.
Beyond its flavour, Tuo Zaafi reflects the agricultural heritage of northern Ghana, where millet and maize have sustained communities for centuries. The dish frequently appears at family gatherings, celebrations, and everyday meals, symbolising hospitality and togetherness. Visitors to the region quickly discover that sharing a bowl of TZ is often an invitation into local culture as much as it is an invitation to dine.
Its nutritional appeal adds to its enduring popularity. Millet is naturally rich in fibre and essential minerals, while the leafy soup provides vitamins and antioxidants, making the meal both hearty and wholesome.
For travellers eager to understand Ghana through its cuisine, Tuo Zaafi offers an authentic taste of the north—simple in appearance, generous in flavour, and deeply woven into the country’s culinary identity.
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.
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