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 development was announced by Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, who revealed that the 21-year-old influencer was issued a Ghanaian passport following official confirmation of what he described as IShowSpeed’s “irrefutable ties” to the country.
The granting of citizenship is said to align 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 engagements that underscored the streamer’s deepening relationship with Ghana and the 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 projecting Ghana and Africa in a positive light to a global audience, describing him as a fitting ambassador for the continent.
IShowSpeed recently wrapped up his Africa Tour, which kicked off on December 29, 2025, and spanned 20 African countries.
During the tour, he used his livestreams to spotlight the continent’s culture, tourism, technology and everyday experiences to his more than 50 million YouTube subscribers, contributing to efforts to counter stereotypes and reshape international perceptions of Africa.