Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Abeiku Santana, has clarified the Authority’s role in the recent visit of popular American YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed to Ghana.
Speaking in an interview on Okay FM, Abeiku Santana dismissed claims that the GTA planned or coordinated the influencer’s activities during his stay in the country.
According to him, the Authority’s involvement was minimal and limited solely to immigration support.
“Our involvement was limited to assisting with visa on arrival. That is all,” he stated.
His comments come amid widespread public speculation that the GTA was responsible for organizing IShowSpeed’s engagements, especially given Ghana’s ongoing efforts to attract global influencers as part of its tourism promotion strategy.
However, Abeiku Santana stressed that while the GTA welcomes international celebrities who help project Ghana positively, not every high-profile visit is facilitated by the Authority.
“GTA supports initiatives that promote Ghana to the world, but not every celebrity visit is managed by us. We are always happy when international personalities visit Ghana,” he explained.
IShowSpeed’s trip generated massive online attention, with several videos showing him exploring Ghanaian culture quickly going viral across social media platforms. The excitement reignited discussions on the impact of influencer marketing and digital promotion on the country’s tourism industry.
Abeiku Santana used the opportunity to caution the public against drawing conclusions without verified information, noting that misinformation spreads rapidly in the digital age.
He urged Ghanaians to seek accurate details from credible sources to avoid misrepresentation of institutions and individuals involved in tourism development.
