President John Dramani Mahama has pointed to the growing influence of social media in promoting Ghana on the global stage, citing American livestreamer IShowSpeed’s recent visit to the country as a clear example.

Speaking at the Ghana–Zambia Business Forum in Lusaka, Zambia, President Mahama said the popular content creator’s tour of the Shea Butter Museum unexpectedly brought international attention to one of Ghana’s key local products.

According to the President, reports showed a sharp rise in online searches for shea butter shortly after the YouTuber’s visit was broadcast live.

He noted that millions of people across the world began looking up information about the product and its benefits.

“He came through Ghana, and we have a product we call shea butter,” Mahama explained.

“It is widely used in cosmetics and skincare because of its benefits for the body. After his visit, there were millions of online searches about shea butter and what it can be used for.”

Mahama admitted he was previously unaware of the Shea Butter Museum until the young influencer toured the facility, where he was shown how the product is traditionally made and used.

The President added that the exposure generated by the visit served as free publicity for the country.

He revealed that beyond interest in shea butter, there were also millions of searches about Ghana itself, with many people asking questions about the country and its culture.

“He did more advertising for us than we could have done ourselves,” Mahama said.

While praising the positive role of social media in promoting tourism and local industries, Mahama cautioned that the digital space also presents challenges.

He warned that cybercrime remains a growing concern and must be addressed even as the country embraces online opportunities.

He stressed that Ghana must harness the power of social media responsibly to support national development and economic growth.