Popular American YouTuber and online streamer Darren Jason Watkins Jr., known globally as IShowSpeed, is set to receive a Ghanaian passport following the conclusion of his widely publicised 28‑day African tour, Ghana’s government announced this week.
Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, confirmed that the Ministry had approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to IShowSpeed after verifying what officials described as his “irrefutable ties” to the country, including comments he made during his visit that his mother is Ghanaian. The tour, titled “Speed Does Africa,” took him to 20 African countries, spotlighting local cultures, landscapes and communities to millions of viewers worldwide.
The passport decision comes as IShowSpeed, aged 21, wraps up his continental livestream project, which began on December 29, 2025, with stops in major cities and cultural sites including Senegal, Morocco, Ethiopia and Nigeria. During the tour, he celebrated reaching 50 million YouTube subscribers, a milestone that coincided with his 21st birthday in Lagos, Nigeria, and drew international attention to his influence as a content creator.
Officials framed the move as part of Ghana’s broader outreach to the global African diaspora and its ongoing efforts to build cultural bridges. Ablakwa described IShowSpeed as a “worthy ambassador” for Ghana and Africa, encouraging him to continue sharing positive narratives about the continent’s diversity and heritage.
The passport issuance will still require completion of the legal processes at Ghana’s Ministry of the Interior, including naturalisation documentation, before formal citizenship or dual nationality is granted under national law, a Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee noted.
Reactions in Ghana have been mixed: many welcomed the decision as a symbol of global recognition for the country’s image, while some critics expressed concern that granting citizenship to a foreign influencer might dilute the perceived value of the nation’s passport.
IShowSpeed’s tour has been widely covered across global media, with observers noting its impact on tourism interest, cross‑cultural engagement and online representation of African destinations beyond traditional stereotypes.
