Youtuber and Streamer IShowSpeed set to get Ghanaian passport as Africa tour ends

Popular American YouTuber IShowSpeed is set to receive a Ghanaian passport following his recent visit to the country during his Africa tour.

The 21-year-old content creator, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr, made Ghana one of the final stops on his live-streamed tour across 20 African countries. The tour, tagged “Speed Does Africa,” officially ended on Tuesday.

After his visit, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that his office had approved a Ghanaian passport for the YouTube star, describing him as a “worthy ambassador” for the country and the African continent, BBC reported.

According to the minister, the approval followed confirmation of IShowSpeed’s ties to Ghana. During one of his live streams in the country, the YouTuber told viewers that his mother is Ghanaian.

Ablakwa encouraged the influencer to continue representing Ghana and Africa positively, adding that the country celebrates him.

IShowSpeed boasts over 50 million subscribers on YouTube, with his Africa tour drawing global attention and praise for showcasing African cultures and challenging stereotypes about the continent.

While many Ghanaians welcomed the move, others took to social media to criticise the decision, accusing the government of devaluing the Ghanaian passport by granting it to foreign celebrities.