What began as a fiery television critique has ended with an apology from GHOne presenter Lily Mohammed to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, following intense public reaction to her comments on the decision to issue a Ghanaian passport to American streamer IShowSpeed.
The issue surfaced after Ablakwa announced on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had approved the passport after confirming what he described as the YouTuber’s ancestral connection to Ghana.
“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.”
Within 24 hours, the announcement had become a major talking point on GHOne TV. During a heated discussion on Wednesday, January 28, Lily questioned the rationale behind the move, suggesting it was handled too casually and risked diminishing the value of Ghanaian citizenship.
“Listen, let’s get serious as a country. It’s like this country is not serious. Somebody comes to the country — yes, he is a streamer, he is putting Ghana on the global map and whatever — the person comes to the country for a day or two and then you shove the Ghanaian passport into the person’s hands. You guys are not serious. You are not serious, eh?”
She made it clear that her frustration was amplified by who was involved, saying she expected a higher standard from the minister based on his track record and public standing.
“Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, you were someone we had high expectations of. You shoved a Ghanaian passport into the hands of someone who came and was embarking on his own personal thing,” she stated.
Beyond the optics, Lily challenged the practical value of the visit, questioning whether activities such as sampling local food or visiting historic sites had produced any real economic return for the country.
“Okay, the coming to jump on our jollof and Black Star Square — what has it done to our GDP? What has it done to our economy?
“We tolerate nonsense and unimportant stuff in this country.You have given him a Ghanaian passport — for what? For what achievement? What has he done for Ghana? That he has come to sit on our jollof?”
READ ALSO: “We Are Not Serious” – Lily Mohammed Blasts Government Over IShowSpeed Passport
She went on to compare IShowSpeed’s short stay with the sustained work of Ghanaian travel YouTuber Wode Maya, arguing that years of promoting cultures and destinations abroad have not earned him similar recognition from other countries.
Lily also highlighted the everyday struggles many citizens face when applying for passports, pointing to long queues and delays that persist even for people born and raised in Ghana.
“Meanwhile, true Ghanaians are queuing for passports. Ghanaian citizens born in Ghana, who have the right to citizenship, are still queuing for passports. Ghanaians are still struggling to access a common passport,” she lamented.
Despite the intensity of her remarks, she insisted her criticism was never meant to target IShowSpeed personally. She praised his boldness and curiosity, saying Ghana should always welcome visitors, but maintained that citizenship decisions must be handled with greater seriousness.
“I don’t have any problem with him or his coming to Ghana. It’s beautiful, and I commend him for his bravery and adventure, but to give him a Ghanaian passport — come on. What has he done? What for? Let’s get serious as a country.
“We are not serious. It’s time we put some respect and value on our Ghanaian passport and on the country,” Lily Mohammed further stated.
As clips from the broadcast spread online, reactions were sharply divided, with critics taking issue with her tone while others shared her concerns about process and principle.
In the wake of the backlash, Lily later rendered an apology to Mr Ablakwa, conceding that some of her comments crossed the line and expressing regret over how they were expressed.
