Martin Eze
At Goge Africa, over two decades of our establishment, we’ve traversed borders, not just to document authentic African stories, but to live them. And if there’s one tangible barrier we’ve felt, it’s the invisible fence of communication—the sudden shift to roaming charges that echoes “you are now a stranger here.”
For too long, travellers have been bedevilled with the exorbitant cost of roaming charges, a frustrating tax on connection within the region.
That is why the news that Ghana and Burkina Faso have torn down this digital wall fills us with profound optimism. Signed in Ouagadougou, this telecommunications policy is a bold move towards strengthening cross border connectivity and accelerating digital integration across the West African region.
Now, traders from Bolgatanga can now coordinate with partners in Ouagadougou without a second thought about call rates. A student from Kumasi on an exchange program in Bobo-Dioulasso can video-call home using her regular data bundle. Families divided by a colonial border but united by blood can share daily life without huge financial penalty. This agreement acknowledges a simple truth: our communities are intertwined, and our communication should reflect that reality.
For both countries, it positions them, not just as a gateway, but as a true connective hub in West Africa. It says, “Our prosperity is linked to the ease with which we connect with our brothers and sisters.” This is the practical, grassroots foundation upon which grand visions like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are built. How can we trade seamlessly if we cannot even connect seamlessly?
The Ghana-Burkina Faso pact is a critical node in a future pan-African digital network. We dream of the day when a filmmaker in Lagos can upload rushes to an editor in Nairobi using a single data plan, or when a tech entrepreneur in Accra can troubleshoot for a client in Kigali at a local rate. This is about unlocking the colossal potential of African innovation, collaboration, and storytelling.
The agreement sends a powerful signal. It tells our youth that the Africa of their future is one of fluidity and connection. It tells our businesses that the regional market is now more accessible, more integrated. It tells the world that Africa is seriously building its own digital ecosystem, on its own terms.
At Goge Africa, we commend the governments and regulators of Ghana and Burkina Faso for this decisive step. This is how we move from maps drawn by others to a future designed by us—connected, communicating, and collectively thriving. Let this initiative be a spark. May every corridor, from the Sahel to the coasts, embrace this model.
The vision is clear: One Africa. Connected Networks. Unlimited Possibilities. Let’s keep building, one call, one byte, one border at a time.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings