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 the legislator, 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.

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“In that LI, compatriots outside who are of African descent or African-Americans or other nationals who want to obtain Ghanaian citizenship which will eventually lead to the acquisition of Ghanaian passports have to go through a certain process and that process is under the purview of the Ministry of the Interior,” he explained.

The lawmaker noted that while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has specific responsibilities under existing laws, including NLCD 155 and 167, the Ministry of the Interior plays a central role in matters relating to citizenship, naturalisation and dual nationality.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs has his duties to perform under the NLCD 155 or 167 and the Minister of the Interior has his role to play during the acquisition of citizenship or persons who want to naturalise,” he stated.

He stressed that if IShowSpeed, who is not a Ghanaian citizen, is to be issued a Ghanaian passport, he must first be naturalised or granted dual citizenship in accordance with the law.

“So, if he's not a Ghanaian and wants to obtain or the minister has announced that he was going to be issued with a passport then he has to go through the processes at the Ministry of the Interior to either be naturalised as a Ghanaian or dual nationality which is allowed before he can be issued with an ordinary passport,” Boamah added.

The MP further clarified that the announcement did not suggest that IShowSpeed would be issued a diplomatic passport, noting that the social media personality does not qualify under the category of persons eligible for special passports.

He acknowledged that while certain procedural steps may be waived in exceptional circumstances, the legal framework governing citizenship and passport issuance must still be respected.

“The minister also did not say he was issuing a diplomatic passport and also IShowSpeed does not fall within the ambit of Section 7 which deals with special passport for public officers and citizens of Ghana.

“They may wave certain steps for him towards the acquisition of the passport but he has to go through the law,” he concluded.

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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.

His announcement has since sparked fierce debates among some Ghanaians.

MAG/AE

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