The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to US-based YouTube streamer IShowSpeed, following confirmation of his ancestral and cultural ties to Ghana.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the decision, saying the approval was based on established links between the content creator and Ghana.
“After subsequent confirmation of the irrefutable ties of IShowSpeed to Ghana, I am pleased to inform you and our compatriots that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to IShowSpeed,” Mr. Ablakwa said.
IShowSpeed, born Darren Jason Watkins Jr. in 2005, is an American digital content creator known for live-streaming gaming, travel, and entertainment content. He commands a global audience with tens of millions of subscribers on YouTube.
The streamer visited Ghana during his Africa tour, a trip that attracted significant international attention to the country through his live streams and online content. His visit featured interactions with local communities, culture, and public spaces, drawing millions of viewers worldwide and generating widespread online discussion about Ghana.
Mr. Ablakwa said the decision reflects Ghana’s engagement with members of the African diaspora who maintain cultural and historical connections to the country.
“Keep making our great nation Ghana, and our beloved African continent proud,” he added.
The development forms part of Ghana’s broader diaspora outreach efforts aimed at strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties between the country and Africans abroad.