Popular Ghanaian YouTuber and travel vlogger Wode Maya has finally broken his silence amid the growing controversy surrounding the government’s decision to grant American streamer IShowSpeed a Ghanaian passport.
IShowSpeed, born Darren Watkins Jnr, visited Ghana on January 27, 2026, as part of his widely followed Speed Does Africa tour. The livestreamed tour, which began on December 29, 2025, saw the internet sensation travel across several African countries, including Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Benin, Angola, Zambia, Eswatini, Senegal, and Ghana.
Following his Ghana visit, which attracted massive global attention to the country through millions of online views, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that IShowSpeed would be issued a Ghanaian passport.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on January 27, the minister disclosed that the decision followed discussions with Wode Maya, who played a key role in organising Speed’s Ghana tour.
“@wode_maya 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 minister wrote.
The announcement, however, triggered mixed reactions on social media.
While some Ghanaians welcomed the move, describing it as a strategic way of leveraging global digital influence to promote the country, others criticised the decision as rushed and poorly thought through.
One of the strongest reactions came from GHOne TV presenter Lily Mohammed, whose video response quickly went viral.
She described the minister’s action as “unserious,” arguing that IShowSpeed had not made any tangible contribution to Ghana to warrant such an honour.
She also accused the streamer of disrespecting Ghanaian culture, referencing an incident in which he performed a backflip into a bowl of jollof rice.
“Wonyɛ serious? Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, you were somebody that we had high expectations of. You shove a Ghanaian passport into the hands of somebody who comes, who is streaming, who is embarking on his own personal thing. What has he done for Ghana [other than] he’s come to sit on our jollof?” she said.
Amid the heated debate, Wode Maya addressed the issue in a tweet shared on January 29.
Rather than engaging with the criticism, the YouTuber chose to express gratitude to the Foreign Affairs Minister for approving his request. He also warmly invited IShowSpeed to continue visiting Ghana.
“Thank you Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa for granting my request to honour our Ghanaian brother with a Ghanaian passport Hey IShowSpeed, welcome home anytime without a visa!” Wode Maya tweeted.
The controversy continues to dominate online discussions, reigniting broader conversations about citizenship, national honours, cultural respect, and how Ghana should engage global digital influencers in promoting the country.
