Broadcast journalist Lilly Mohammed has descended on Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, over the decision to issue a Ghanaian passport to American streamer IShowSpeed.

Speaking on GH Today, GHOne TV’s morning show, the host expressed strong dissatisfaction with the minister’s action, questioning the justification for granting Ghanaian citizenship to the internet personality after a brief visit to the country.

“Let’s get serious as a country. It’s like we’re not serious at all. Somebody comes to Ghana, he’s a streamer, he’s putting Ghana on the global map, he’s doing whatever. He comes for a day or two, and then you shove a Ghanaian passport into his hands. You’re not serious,” she said.

Lilly Mohammed stated that she could not see the importance of IShowSpeed’s visit that warranted the issuance of a Ghanaian passport.

“You’re not serious. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, you were somebody we had high expectations of. You shoved a Ghanaian passport into the hands of somebody who came here streaming and embarking on his own personal thing. Coming to step on our jollof, jumping on the Black Stars Square, what has that done to our GDP? What has it added to our economy?” she questioned.

The media personality further compared the situation to Ghanaian YouTuber Wode Maya, who has consistently promoted Africa on the global stage, asking whether any country had rewarded him with citizenship for his efforts.

“Wode Maya has been putting Ghana on the map globally. Have you seen America give him an American passport? Even Nigeria, has Nigeria given him a Nigerian passport? You entertain stupidity so much. You’ve given him a Ghanaian passport for what achievement? What has he done for Ghana?” she asked.

She also criticised the public reaction surrounding the visit, particularly an incident where some Ghanaians reportedly ate jollof rice that IShowSpeed had stepped on during his visit.

“You give him a Ghanaian passport because he sat on our jollof, and the moment he steps away, Ghanaians rush to eat it. You are not serious. With the greatest respect, let’s put some value on our passport. Let’s put value on this country,” she stressed.

Lilly Mohammed further lamented the difficulties faced by Ghanaian citizens in acquiring passports, contrasting it with the ease with which the streamer was allegedly granted one.

“Meanwhile, Ghanaians are queuing for passports. Ghanaian citizens born in this country, who by the Constitution are entitled to citizenship, are struggling. You say you have opened the passport system to eliminate goro boys, yet people are still finding it difficult to get a basic passport,” she said.

While clarifying that she had no personal issue with the streamer, she maintained that the decision to issue him a Ghanaian passport was unjustified.

“I have no problem with him. I didn’t even know him until he came to Ghana. It’s a beautiful thing what he’s doing, and it’s risky. For a young man, he’s very bold and deserves a pat on the back. However, to give him a Ghanaian passport, what has he done to deserve it? Let’s get serious in this country, for real,” she concluded.

Background

On Tuesday, January 27, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced that the Ministry had approved the issuance of a Ghanaian passport to popular American streamer and internet personality IShowSpeed. According to the minister, the decision followed confirmation of what he described as the influencer’s “irrefutable ties” to Ghana.

IShowSpeed, an American streamer currently on an African tour highlighting the continent’s culture and lifestyle, arrived in Ghana on Sunday. He was officially welcomed on Monday, January 26, with a traditional Akan naming ceremony held in the Eastern Region.

The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park generated GH¢10 million in revenue in 2025 after welcoming about 266,000 visitors, the Executive Director of the facility, Dr Collins Nunyonameh, has disclosed.

Dr Nunyonameh said the figures mark a notable improvement in earnings compared to previous years, underscoring the park’s growing reputation as one of Ghana’s leading cultural and historical attractions.

He explained that domestic tourists accounted for 75 percent of total visitors, while international tourists made up the remaining 25 percent, together contributing to the GH¢10 million revenue recorded for the year.

According to him, the park has experienced a steady rise in patronage since it reopened in July 2023. In both 2023 and 2024, the facility recorded an estimated 333,000 visitors annually, generating just under GH¢8 million in revenue each year.

Dr Nunyonameh attributed the improved performance to better facility management, enhanced visitor experience, and increased promotion of Ghana’s heritage tourism, noting that both local and foreign visitors played a role in the growth.

He also highlighted the park’s revenue-sharing structure, explaining that 34 percent of internally generated funds are retained by government, while the park keeps 66 percent.

“Even though we had fewer visitors in 2025 compared to 2024, our revenue was approximately GH¢2 million higher,” he said, attributing the increase partly to differences in admission fees.

“The distinction between domestic and international tourists is the price they pay. International tourists pay about four times what a Ghanaian visitor pays,” he added.

Dedicated to Ghana’s first President and a central figure in Africa’s independence movement, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park continues to attract tourists, students, and researchers interested in the country’s political history.

Dr Nunyonameh expressed confidence that visitor numbers will continue to grow, especially as efforts to upgrade facilities and position Ghana as a preferred tourism destination are intensified.

Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has described culture as the country’s most powerful asset in driving tourism and investment, stressing that Ghana’s appeal to the world goes far beyond forts and castles.

She made this assertion during a community dialogue held in the United States, which focused on Ghana’s future, diaspora engagement, and opportunities linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to the Minister, Ghana’s tourism strategy is increasingly centered on culture, creativity, and experience driven offerings that reflect both tradition and modern expression.

Hon. Gomashie noted that the government is creating an enabling environment for investors who share this vision. She highlighted the availability of government ready, litigation free land, as well as established channels through the US–Ghana Chamber of Commerce, as part of efforts to attract credible investment into the tourism and creative sectors.

The Minister emphasized that promoting tourism in Ghana is inseparable from promoting culture. She explained that the country’s identity is shaped by a rich blend of traditional heritage and contemporary expressions, ranging from historic dances and customs to modern creative trends embraced by younger generations. This blend, she said, is key to building a vibrant and inclusive national brand that resonates globally.

Hon. Gomashie also expressed appreciation to H.E. President John Dramani Mahama for the restructuring of the Ministry, describing it as a timely move that strengthens the alignment between tourism, culture, and the creative arts.

She concluded that Ghana’s cultural wealth remains its strongest currency on the global stage, offering meaningful experiences that connect history, creativity, and community while positioning the country as a leading destination for cultural tourism.