Ghanaian travel vlogger Wode Maya has expressed profound gratitude to the Ghanaian government after being awarded a diplomatic passport, contrasting his new status with the serious difficulties he faced while traveling internationally with an ordinary passport.
Wode Maya was one of five Ghanaian creatives – including Rocky Dawuni, Anita Erskine, Dentaa, and Ibrahim Mahama – who received diplomatic passports from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, on October 1, 2025, in recognition of their work promoting Ghana’s international image.
In an interview with Channel One TV after the ceremony, Wode Maya shared his past negative experiences, revealing:
“This has been very tough. I’ve been arrested, deported, and sometimes even beaten because of the passport I hold,” he said, noting that many of these incidents often go unreported.
He stated that the new diplomatic passport would offer him better protection and defense while traveling abroad. Wode Maya offered heartfelt thanks to Ghana, specifically mentioning President John Dramani Mahama for recognizing his efforts, saying, “I’m so happy that the country has decided to honor what I do… So I want to say thank you to Ghana, especially the President.”
