Ghanaian media personality and television producer Lily Mohammed has strongly criticised the government, particularly the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, following the announcement that a Ghanaian passport had been issued to popular American streamer and YouTuber IShowSpeed.
The announcement was made by the Foreign Affairs Minister in a post on Tuesday, January 27, where he explained that the decision followed discussions that established IShowSpeed’s connection to Ghana.
According to Ablakwa, the move aligns with Ghana’s openness to welcoming members of the global African family who positively promote the country on the international stage.
Reacting to the development on her programme on GHOne TV, Lily questioned the rationale behind the decision, urging authorities to place greater value on Ghanaian citizenship and national documentation.
While acknowledging that IShowSpeed’s visit helped project Ghana globally, she argued that this alone does not justify the issuance of a Ghanaian passport. She described the decision as unnecessary and indicative of a lack of seriousness by authorities.
“Let’s get serious as a country. Someone visits Ghana for a day or two, even if he is a streamer putting Ghana on the global map, and then a Ghanaian passport is handed to him. That is not serious,” she remarked.
Lily also expressed disappointment in the Foreign Affairs Minister, noting that she had higher expectations of him based on his past advocacy and public image.
“Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was someone many of us had high expectations of, and yet a Ghanaian passport was issued to someone who was simply on a personal visit,” she stated.
She further raised concerns about the difficulties many ordinary Ghanaians face in acquiring passports, pointing out that citizens born and raised in Ghana often endure long queues and prolonged delays to access basic travel documents.
“Meanwhile, true Ghanaians are still queuing for passports. Citizens who have a right to Ghanaian citizenship are struggling just to obtain a common passport,” she lamented.
Despite her criticism, Lily clarified that her comments were not directed at IShowSpeed personally. She commended his adventurous spirit and acknowledged that Ghana remains an attractive destination for global visitors.
“I have no problem with him or his visit to Ghana. I commend his bravery and adventure, but giving him a Ghanaian passport raises serious questions. What has he done to deserve that?” she asked.
Lily concluded by calling on authorities to place greater respect and value on Ghanaian citizenship and the country’s passport, stressing the need for fairness and consistency in national policies.
