Ghana Grants Citizenship To YouTuber IShowSpeed After Africa Tour

Ghana has granted citizenship to American YouTuber IShowSpeed, real name Darren Jason Watkins Jr., following his month-long tour across Africa.

The announcement was made by Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, who said the 21-year-old influencer was recognised for his “irrefutable ties” to the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to the YouTuber, who boasts over 50 million subscribers on YouTube.

In a statement shared on social media, Ablakwa praised IShowSpeed and Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya for promoting Ghana and Africa globally, describing them as worthy ambassadors of the continent.

IShowSpeed’s African tour, which began on December 29, saw him visit 20 countries, highlighting African culture, tourism and technology while challenging negative stereotypes about the continent.

The move is part of Ghana’s “Beyond the Return” initiative, aimed at strengthening ties with the African diaspora.

However, the decision has drawn mixed reactions, with some Ghanaians applauding the global exposure, while others questioned the merit of granting citizenship to foreign celebrities.