Ghanaian broadcaster and TV producer Lily Mohammed has launched a blistering critique of the government’s move to issue a Ghanaian passport to American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed, directing her criticism squarely at Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Her comments followed a social media post by the minister on Tuesday, January 27, announcing that the popular content creator had been granted a Ghanaian passport. Ablakwa said the decision was informed by engagements that linked IShowSpeed’s ancestry to Ghana and positioned the gesture as part of a wider effort to welcome the global African diaspora, particularly those who spotlight the country in a positive light.
However, speaking on her GHOne TV programme, Lily dismissed that explanation and argued that the state had treated citizenship far too lightly. While conceding that the YouTuber’s visit brought international attention to Ghana, she insisted that visibility and online buzz should not be the basis for granting a national passport.
According to her, the move exposed a deeper problem of misplaced priorities among those in charge.
“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?”
Lily said her disappointment was heightened because of the individual involved, noting that Ablakwa’s past record and public image had set a higher bar for accountability.
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“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.
She went on to question the tangible economic impact of the visit, asking what real gains the country had recorded beyond social media moments and sightseeing clips.
“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?”
To further drive home her argument, Lily contrasted the situation with the experience of Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya, whose long-running travel content has promoted Ghana and Africa across several countries. Despite years of consistent exposure, she noted, no foreign state has rewarded him with citizenship or a passport simply for highlighting their culture.
She also pointed to the daily struggles of ordinary Ghanaians seeking passports, describing a system marked by long queues, delays and bureaucratic obstacles, even for citizens born and raised in the country.
“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.
Lily was quick to clarify that her criticism was not aimed at IShowSpeed personally. She said she welcomed his visit, praised his adventurous spirit and acknowledged Ghana’s appeal as a destination for global visitors.
Nonetheless, she insisted that granting him a Ghanaian passport was unwarranted and urged the state to attach greater value to citizenship.
“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.
