American YouTuber and global livestream sensation Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed, has officially become a Ghanaian citizen after completing a month-long tour across Africa.
The announcement was made by Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, who revealed that the 21-year-old influencer was issued a Ghanaian passport following the official confirmation of what the minister described as IShowSpeed’s “irrefutable ties” to the country.
The granting of citizenship aligns with Ghana’s Beyond the Return initiative, a programme designed to strengthen connections with the African diaspora and encourage people of African descent to formalise their ties with the country.
According to the minister, the decision came after discussions that highlighted the streamer’s deepening relationship with Ghana and the wider African continent, driven largely by his cultural interactions and public content.
“Following our discussions and 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,” the statement read.
Ablakwa also commended the YouTuber for showcasing Ghana and Africa positively to a global audience, describing him as a fitting ambassador for the continent.
IShowSpeed recently concluded his Africa Tour, which began on December 29, 2025, and covered 20 African countries. During the tour, he used his livestreams to highlight the continent’s culture, tourism, technology and everyday experiences to his more than 50 million YouTube subscribers, helping to counter stereotypes and reshape international perceptions of Africa.
