Ghana grants citizenship to American YouTuber IShowSpeed

Ghana has granted citizenship to US YouTuber IShowSpeed, the country's foreign minister announced, as the influencer wraps up a month-long tour of Africa.

Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa said in an X post that following "confirmation of the irrefutable ties of IShowSpeed to Ghana", his government "has approved the issuance of a Ghanaian Passport to IShowSpeed."

"Keep making our great nation Ghana, and our beloved African continent proud. Ghana celebrates you," the minister said.

The 21-year-old African American IShowSpeed – born in Cincinnati, Ohio as Darren Jason Watkins Jr. – is a highly followed social media influencer.

Africa's other version

He hit 50 million YouTube subscribers this month. Forbes estimates his net worth at $20 million.

IShowSpeed's tour, which started on December 29, has taken him to 20 countries, showing his tens of millions of followers a different side of Africa as he visited a diamond mine in Botswana, discovered Ethiopia's rich cuisine and attended the Africa Cup of Nations football final in Morocco.

Some social media users said IShowSpeed had opened their eyes to a completely different version of Africa, far from negative TV cliches.