ISHOWSPEED TO GET GHANAIAN PASSPORT AS AFRICA TOUR ENDS

Global streamer IShowSpeed is set to be officially recognised as a son of Ghana, with the nation’s Foreign Ministry approving a Ghanaian passport for the streamer.

This follows the YouTuber’s recent stop in Ghana as part of his widely watched Speed Does Africa tour a 20-country journey live-streamed to his audience of over 50 million subscribers. The tour, concluding this week, has been praised for presenting a vibrant and multifaceted portrait of the continent to a global audience.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, formally announced the decision on social media, referring to IShowSpeed born Darren Watkins Jr. as a “worthy ambassador.” The minister cited the confirmation of the 21-year-old’s “irrefutable ties to Ghana” as the basis for the approval, noting the creator’s own revelation during his stream that his mother is Ghanaian.

“Keep making our great nation Ghana, and our beloved African continent proud. Ghana celebrates you,” Minister Ablakwa wrote in his post. The move aligns with Ghana’s ongoing efforts to strengthen connections with the African diaspora worldwide. In 2024, the country extended citizenship to hundreds of diaspora members, including cultural icons like Stevie Wonder, joining other West African nations in offering a formal return to descendants affected by the transatlantic slave trade.

During his visit, IShowSpeed stated he felt “back home.” His immersion included a traditional naming ceremony in the country’s eastern region, where, adorned in prestigious kente cloth, he was honoured with the Ghanaian name Barima Kofi Akuffo.

While many have applauded the government’s move as a symbolic embrace, a segment of public opinion has questioned the practice, suggesting that awarding passports to foreign celebrities could devalue the significance of national citizenship.