By Ebi Kesiena
Ghana has granted citizenship to US YouTuber IShowSpeed, the country’s foreign minister announced, as the popular influencer concludes a month-long tour across Africa.
In a post on X, Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa said the decision followed the “confirmation of the irrefutable ties of IShowSpeed to Ghana,” adding that the government had approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to him.
“Keep making our great nation Ghana, and our beloved African continent proud. Ghana celebrates you,” the minister said.
The 21-year-old African American content creator, born Darren Jason Watkins Jr. in Cincinnati, Ohio, is one of the world’s most followed online personalities. He reached 50 million YouTube subscribers this month, with Forbes estimating his net worth at about $20 million.
IShowSpeed began his African tour on December 29, traveling to 20 countries and showcasing a different side of the continent to his tens of millions of followers. His journey included a visit to a diamond mine in Botswana, exploring Ethiopia’s cuisine, and attending the Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco.
Many social media users said his content offered a fresh perspective on Africa, challenging long-held negative stereotypes often portrayed in mainstream media.
