Fighting Immigration Officers At Togo Border Because I Refused To Pay Bribe! 

Help Me Share This Video... Things Need To Change

Y'all are change-makers. The next generation will enjoy free border travels. Thank you so much!

This man has a heart of a lion!!! I'm from America and he deserves the upmost respect.

I'm Kenyan, One time like 4 years ago I went on a road trip with my friends and ended up at the Tanzanian border at Taveta/Holili. On a whim we decided that we would ask Tanzanian immigration if they can let us pass (We had no passports, only IDs) so we can visit the nearest Tanzanian town get lunch, drink some Tanzanian beers then come back before the day was over. Guess what!? They told us they would let us in with a permit for 8 hours if we leave our car on the Kenyan side and took a Tanzanian rental/Taxi/public transport... Long story short we had one of the craziest 8hrs in a foreign country, we got so wasted we almost got lost on our way back to the Kenyan border. We did not bribe anyone! On our way back even the Kenya immigration officials were surprised, they were like, 'So they let you in just like that?' and we were like, 'yeah, we asked really nicely'. That's the kind of brotherhood/sisterhood that Africa needs.

Thank you brother, we need more videos like this. Our people from the diaspora don't need to go through this mess.

The Director only assisted, because he knew that you all were recording. It’s impossible that he is unaware of the corruption. Plus, those elder Black American (Ghanaian) women were too strong and they were not going to tolerate that corruption. The day we learn to unite as one, is the day the African globally will be free!

Thats what African Americans do !! We fight for whats right. We are passionate people and yes loud but we have your back on a protest hands down!!

Black american sisters had your back bro ! 💜💜💜💜

Thank you Maya for exposing the border corruption.

This boy from Ghana was sent by God to unite Africa, this boy is undoubtedly the voice of Africa, this boy will surely change the perspective of Africans, Finally, this genius Ghana boy may not know how kenyans love him, go, the unity of Africa is in ur hands. Love from Kenya 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪

The public recording corruption is the key to solving all the worlds problems. It keeps people ACCOUNTABLE!

I’m so proud of the ladies, they stood up too..🙏🏾👏

This is insane! Am so sorry! Africa needs to change! Who will deal with these people?!😮

This is an award winning video. I am completely lost for words for your insistence of refusing to pay bribe. Well done Maya.

So many governments in African countries need a Wode Maya... this dude has the charisma of a good politician. People are seperated and he brings them together. Plus, he is truly passionate for a greater Africa.

This video really shows the mental slavery and the way hate is embedded into society in which Melanated people reside 😢. As a Jamaican I am touched by Wode Maya’s passion for the Continent of Africa to see SENSE. I truly love the video and how he stood up for what is right. Poverty does not have to give birth to greed and bribery!! If there is free movement then money will be made and each family would live above the poverty line. The same goes for the Caribbean Community and honestly if as Caribbean’s we see unity in the Motherland all would pack there bags and return.😢 Thank you Wode Maya

All travel RU-vidrs should be sharing this video right now !

ONE OF MAYA'S MOST POWERFUL VIDEOS YET!!

The Honourable Member of Parliament should be praised for her being Outspoken critic on such a sensitive matter. God bless you Mum , you are true African Mother.

They were messing with the wrong grannies. These grannies have gone through many trials and tribulations from the states. They know their rights and they are persistent. They know how to fight.

I commend these African-American women who are now Ghanaian citizens. They began their journey back to Africa for this VERY MOMENT, to stand up to institutional corruption, to be strong and BE the CHANGE we want to see in this world. Thank you, Wode Maya ❤️💫🌍

You refused to pay bribes? You are a brave soul

I'm from the United States.. What you are doing is very powerful ✨

Africa without borders will be richer than any other continent on earth, we can do this...

The question is "WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE BORDERS?"

I'm Jamaican watching from another country. This was infuriating. I tell you though... like them or not you've got to give it to the Americans... they speak up and fight for their rights. That's the main thing I like about Americans. Notice too that these are elderly American women, as one of them pointed out. Can you imagine these women fighting for freedom and equality in America and going back to Africa to have to do the same? Wow! Where does it end?

This is so deep. Got me emotional. When? My people when? I call on our generation to fight and put a stop to this.

You and the women companions are champions! If no receipts are given, it can only mean one thing - money for their pockets or corruption. I am from Solomon Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, north east of Australia, but I like your videos and love your promotion of Africa for African investors. Keep it up❤️❤️

I am Nigerian and I was born in Cameroon. When I was traveling from Nigeria to Cameroon I was left out in the cold for hours because I refused to pay money at the border. Thank you for this video

You are not just a content creator but also a generational icon! What you all fought for and risk your lives for at the border will benefit future travellers. Congrats to you all!

"EMANCIPATE YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY " BOB MARLEY🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

The Togolesse customs have no shame. I am 53 and I have paid bribes since I started crossing that border at 16

Maya's facial expressions are just the message Afrikan leaders need. We have failed our own people as a continent

As a Togolese I have to pay babes twice before enter Ghana, first at the border and the second at sogakope. IT is the same situation between all borders in west Africa. This really need to stop now.Government know that but they are not doing anything....

I'm from Togo and I support your video. This aflao border is a nightmare for both Togoleses and Ghanaians

Big Fan. As a white man who traveled to Togo in April 2022 it was a nightmare for me too. They wanted to take my cameras, they wanted to take my phone. They initially wanted $100 USD to cross into Benin (I was still within my Togolese visa) and they made me sit under a mango tree for 3 hours. I eventually paid $60 and they let me through. When I got to Beninese border control just 100m across the border, they shook their head and rolled their eyes. I think this has something to do with Togo. It's an authoritarian state, and at this point, they are trying to make money where they can. It happens less in Benin, but it does happen. But the ones that are closed societies tend to be the ones that have higher levels of corruption. I would love to go back, and will, because I love every country, no matter the situation it's in, but this is something peculiarly linked to Togo.

We need to change the way we do things in Africa so we can achieve the greatness we deserve!

This is such an important issue. Africa will never truly rise until these things are addressed. Keep on fighting✊🏾

If it was not for bribery ,Mamma Africa would rule the world.

So embarrassing. I’m so glad the elders stood up to that nonsense.

Woda Maya, I am a Sierra Leonean living in Houston Texas .I have been watching your videos about two years now thanks to my wife who forced me to start watching your videos on ' Changing the Africa narratives". You are the reason why I am now working on investing in my country and working on taking my family to tour the continent very soon. If African leaders mean business they should 100% support your work..Only God will bless you and your family for the sacrifices you are making to connect us and making us think about going back home. Most of us to be honest had given up..because we are tired of the issues we go through when you go back and tries to do things..The corruption, bad roads, stinky attitudes of those in offices and so much more... You are a hero for mama Africa and all government officers of every African country if they mean good for their countries in general and mama Africa in particular should embrace you and encourage more youths that are so passionate about uniting all children of mama Africa and changing the narratives of how the world view Africa in a negative light which is why we are treated like nobodies around the world. Me and my family adore you so much Thank you Woda Maya🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Please don't give in continue the great work you are doing our hero!

This is exactly why I said Africa won’t be great until our Cousins whose ancestors were uprooted come back home. They are the ones who will help liberate us. Africans that were left in Africa have been so brainwashed by the colonizers and they don’t even realize it. We need our diaspora cousins, especially the women to help open the eyes of their cousins at home. We need our diaspora female warriors! Thank you Sistas for standing by Wode Maya.

All of this chaos for what is equal to a little over $3.00 US. As an American, let's just say that my 11 year old child gets $20.00 per week for doing chores. That's how little $3.00 is. If they need the money that bad - create systems that will allow for simple and easy transition. AFRICA is the richest contintent on the planet but here they are as if they are not.. They are allowing colonialism to run the place as they bribe people that look like them for $3.00..smh Its time for a change! The speech at the end was really moving! The Queens that stood up for what is right were 🔥🔥🔥!

I am moroccan but we have exactly the same by some people ur words make me cry africa can be paradise on earth if we all find our self value and love each other ur doing noble work this is sadly going on all acros africa and just a tiny drop in this sea of of bribery i remember moroccan officers needed to be payed bribe. brother greetings from morocco 🙏🏼🙏🏿🙏🏽

This what we go through as South Sudan when travelling to Kenya n Uganda 😢😢😢

Africa is just united on social media but in reality it’s not

Couldn’t agree more with this lady. It’s full time black people/Africana stop beating down each other. Keep up the great work Woda!

Corruption is a water Africans drink. We’re our own problem. How can it be uprooted when the leaders themselves are corrupt.

Am from Guyana 🇬🇾 an am very impressed with you as an advocate fighting the cause for one Africa.I do hope other bloggers from Africa will joined you in fighting for such worthy cause. " One Africa". Wishing you every success in your endeavours.

It's simple, we need to build an African community for African managed by Africans.

This guy must be protected 😢 he's great

This is reason why most of our young people are migrating to European countries because they're tired of corruption,violence, poverty,harassment and high unemployment the list is endless ...anyways I salute my brother Wode Maya for his courage and determination because some of us we would have given up a long time 👏🏽👏🏽

Thank you for making “border free” a conversation across the continent! One Africa. 🖤

Some people talk trash about Black Americans, but look 👀 at God! We change any atmosphere we’re in. And we are formidable, especially our women.

As an African I’m disgusted and embarrassed. This NONSENSE has to stop. 🙄🤬🤬

I was crossing the nigeria/Benin border last February and my family and I were extorted for money by numerous nigerian customs/immigration officers. It was my brother's first time in nigeria. It was disheartening and disgusting.

Stand your ground and elevate the standard of transparency. Don't let this bribing cancer continue. Aya Maya!

Thank you so much brother for fighting for the motherland. You had the money but chose not to pay. That’s the exact way to stop this corruption. Imagine if every single person there had teamed up and said they’re not going to pay a dime. Sometimes we the citizens are the ones that do encourage bribery and corruption. Stay blessed bro

See, people go through worse than this at the African borders and the stories are terrible. If you’re here and you want to contribute towards a change, please continue to share this video till something is done. God bless you🙏🏽

If any video of yours did not go viral, this one should go viral, and the whole world needs to know about these schemers at these borders in Africa.

I'm Togolese and I'm so ashamed of their border bribe and attitude. This is unacceptable!!! Togo needs to change on that!! Thank you for exposing the truth brother! Keep up the good fight!

Watching this breaks my heart. We were supposed to be free in our own country. Things need to be changed!

Shout-out to those Grandmas for their bravery and not afraid to speak out to the corrupt authorities of the border!

I can't help it but cry!!! Africa, why??? Why are we doing this to ourselves?! Why?????💔💔💔💔💔😥😥😥😥😥

More love to my American granny’s and aunt’s for their relentless fighting spirits.. Maya great work. Love you 👏👏

I’ve been a subscriber and fan of yours for several years now Wode Maya. You always bring such optimism and passion to your work. As an AA Diasporan, it sincerely hurts my heart to see us as Africans and Afro Descendants in the Diaspora going through so much bs unnecessarily. It’s hard enough dealing with the anti-blackness biases and racist attitudes from other countries outside of the continent and in America, but another layer of bs from our own folks added to it is just too much. Europeans don’t put each other through this. I feel that It should be the same for Africa and its scattered children.

This man is a great african visionary he should meet people like Julias Malema

Maya God will lengthen your days 🙏 You can't believe as a Nigerian I was on phone with a Ugandan friend talking about the problem of traveling within Africa being so expensive than traveling to some European countries from Africa when I got the notification of this video. This borders is one of our major problem. May God use the present generation to heal Africa 🙏

Thank you my man Wode Maya for telling the WORLD about this problem ! 😎

I keep saying it we are our own problems not the Europeans. The sooner we realize that we are not competing amongst ourselves but trying to make our continent the giant it should be, the better. Great video Maya thanks for standing up for fellow Africans like yourself.

I almost choked when she said they are gone for so long lol as if!

This situation is horrible and those people needs to be held accountable .

Most of Africa is corrupt and I have bad experiences first hand, while travelling between the borders of Namibia, Botswana, to Zimbabwe in 2013. God help us !! It's crazy, ridiculous and no country, no nation, no people can move forward if we continue to be corrupt. It hurts the economy ( its development), and it needs to stop!!✋🏼

Kudos to you Wode Maya, thanks for the exposure. It's so sad these things keeps repeating in Africa at this era. Africa must change and grow.

My brother this is a GOOD FIGHT FOR THE FREEDOM OF AN AFRICAN IN AFRICA - God Give you Strength to carry on

I’ve been traveling between TOGO & GHANA now and then for more than ten years. Just the thought of crossing the AFLAO border is mentally exhausting. Even with every document at hand, the officers won’t let you pass if you don’t pay! It drives me crazy and often stops me from wanting to travel between TOGO & GHANA. It’s ridiculous!

Don't mess with elderly aunties from the Diaspora. They have a no nonsense fighting spirit about them. 🥰

Keep doing what your doing. I can not wait to come home to Mother Africa. It is a dream of mine. Stay safe on your many journeys. Blessings from America

Man the honorable Dzifa has said a mouthful about the mental slavery . It has infected us on both sides of the Atlantic.

"We're no better than you, you're no better than us. We're one". This statement really hit me hard. It's so sad to see such things happening between us fellow african brothers. Slavery unfortunately left the form of chains to become mental. This absolutely has to change and instead of blaming governments, let's first start by changing paradigms and mentalities.

As a Jamaican 🇯🇲 living in the United States 🇺🇸 dreaming of returning to Africa 🌍 I cried watching this video. If you need to make money adopt the process of paying tolls

Wode maya never disappoint ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I love Africa, I am from Pakistan and I truly hope Africa will become One!

Thank you soooooo much WADE MAYA, you are a GOD sent to all black people all over the world. I really appreciate you WODA MAYA, proudly Nigerian 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

Sir I am really sorry I am Togolese and I ask forgiveness for what happened I appreciate you very much for the work you do for Africa Ghana and Togo is family 🇬🇭❤️🇹🇬

That Woman spoke the true true

one time i came to ghana in 2017, my ghana visa was long expired...they took me up into a immigration room and after about one hour of fussing around and threatening to deport me they let me pay $150 to get a new visa...it was funny and fun. i love africa.. there was no meaness or "get on the ground" like they would do in america...my african brrothers are wonderful i want to come back again...its so nice being around them

They didn’t know who they were messing up with now it’s up ⬆️ We need more of these radical videos to expose all evil going on around our continent, then the change will come. You don’t deserve what you’re going through but God allows you to go through that for the rest of Africans to experience change. Change is near, and you’re bringing that change. Love you man 🤟🏿✌🏿

Thank you Maya for using your platform to speak against injustice and to shine a light on a more united Africa. I could tell that this experience really hit home.

I am sad, I am disappointed, I am angry. As a Nigerian, as a west African citizen, this is heartbreaking. Why are we doing this to ourselves? I am so upset. Something needs to be done.

The colonisers divided us for their own benefits. It's now time for us Africans to wake up, emancipate ourselves from the mental slavery we've been put in for centuries. Let's unite for us & our children's children's benefits. Thank you very much @wodemaya for this valuable piece of evidence. 🙏🏾🙏🏾 Hope it's the beginning of a new & prosperous era for our beloved Africa.

This same shit happened when I travelled from Ivory Coast to Ghana and my dear, I cried my ass out. We couldn’t cross one city without bribing because they knew I was from the diaspora and also not Ivorian . They warned us but I couldn’t believe the headache we’d went through just to cross the boarder. This must change!!!!!!!!!!

Re-emerging of Kwameh Nkuruma through Wode Maya! Keep it up bro ..Bravoh

She’s absolutely correct. Nothing will change until we start to love ourselves.

I got goosebumps watching this video. As an African woman I felt every inch of emotion the diaspora ladies in the video carried. Africans together lets change the narrative. Africa to the world.

These corrupted officers/personnel need to be put on blast and shamed. Enough is enough. If these countries want more tourism, they have to address these corrupt personnel. Fine and fire them.

I always want to thank Brother Wode for being honest about the reality and being on the side of the truth. Rise up Africa.

My brother, first all of sorry for what happened. I have experienced the same problem here in East Africa and I badly wanted to talk about it but I have no platform. So I ended up vigorously telling my frustrations to my wife. I almost cried. Imagine how hard it is for businesses and businessmen and women to deal with borders' constraints. it's like they have devised a system just to make things difficult so that they can make a little money without due regard to the victims. My brother, the issue here is that our leaders consider these issues as small, and they don't know how much the same affect everyday livelihood of their people. With this video I hope they get the message. As always keep up the good work.

On my first visit to Ghana in 2008 I was made to pay £20 bribe yet Zim has a gratis visa from Ghana. Thereafter I stood my ground and do not pay anymore. Nice work Maya!

The bureaucracy and corruption is why we can't progress in our communities/nations. We need something better.