American YouTuber and streamer Darren Watkins Jr., better known as IShowSpeed, has been granted Ghanaian citizenship and a passport by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ghana. The approval came after his month-long “Speed Does Africa” tour, which visited 20 countries and highlighted African cultures to his global audience of over 50 million subscribers. Ghana’s
Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed the decision, citing IShowSpeed’s “irrefutable ties” to the country through his mother’s Ghanaian ancestry.
During his visit, he participated in a traditional naming ceremony, receiving the name Barima Kofi Akuffo. The move has sparked mixed reactions in Ghana, with some praising his ambassadorial role while others question the fast-tracked process for non-citizens. As a result, Google and Wikipedia now list him as holding dual American and Ghanaian nationality. This makes Ghana the only African nation from his tour to formalize such ties.
