Accra: The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, has explained why popular American YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed would require proper legal clearance before being issued a Ghanaian passport.
According to Ghana Web, while speaking on Channel One TV on January 28, 2026, the acquisition of Ghanaian citizenship and passports by foreigners, including persons of African descent and African-Americans, is governed by clearly defined legal processes under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior.
The lawmaker detailed that the process for obtaining Ghanaian citizenship, which can eventually lead to acquiring a Ghanaian passport, is primarily overseen by the Ministry of the Interior. He clarified that while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has specific duties under existing laws such as NLCD 155 and 167, the Ministry of the Interior plays a central role in matters relating to citizenship, naturalisation, and dual nationality.
Boamah emphasized that if IShowSpeed, who is not currently a Ghanaian citizen, wishes to be issued a Ghanaian passport, he must first be naturalised or granted dual citizenship in accordance with the law. He outlined that the YouTuber must complete the required processes at the Ministry of the Interior before being eligible for an ordinary passport.
Additionally, Boamah clarified that the announcement regarding IShowSpeed did not imply that he would be issued a diplomatic passport, noting that the social media personality does not qualify for special passports intended for public officers and citizens of Ghana. He acknowledged that while certain procedural steps might be waived in exceptional circumstances, adherence to the legal framework governing citizenship and passport issuance is mandatory.
Patrick Boamah's comments follow an announcement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, regarding the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to the YouTuber on January 27, 2026. The announcement has sparked debates among some Ghanaians.