Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called on African leaders to work towards border systems that connect countries across the continent in order to enhance trade and accelerate development.

She made the call while delivering her address at this year’s Africa Prosperity Dialogue, currently underway in Accra.

According to the Vice President, Africa’s progress depends on the ability of its countries to move beyond rigid border controls and adopt policies that promote integration and cooperation.

"Our borders should connect us. Pan-African Festival of Arts and Culture, through the Year of Return initiative, to the Diaspora Summit, successive governments in Ghana have worked deliberately to bridge our historical and economic divides with the understanding that progress is the strongest when it is collective," she said.

"This spirit of partnership was reaffirmed just last year at the 2nd AU Summit. Where African countries recommitted themselves to cooperation rooted in dignity, equity and mutual benefits," she added.

She stressed that the issue is not about sovereignty, but about creating friendly and connected borders that allow people, goods, and services to move freely across the continent.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang noted that greater border connectivity would strengthen intra-African trade, particularly the Africa Free Trade Continental Area, and unlock economic opportunities, adding that collaboration among African states is essential for sustainable growth.