Why Nana Aba Thinks Nana Ama McBrown Was Snubbed From Ghana’s Diplomatic Passport Honours

• Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave diplomatic passports to five creatives: Wode Maya, Rocky Dawuni, Anita Erskine, Ibrahim Mahama, and Dentaa Amoateng.
• The honors were announced on September 17, 2025, at the Diaspora Summit launch.
• Nana Aba Anamoah believes Nana Ama McBrown should have been included.
• She highlighted McBrown’s diaspora influence and her role in promoting local Ghanaian languages.
• Nana Aba warned the list may look elitist if it only recognizes English-speaking personalities.
• She also suggested figures like Wiyaala as potential representatives of local-language creatives.

The recent decision by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to award diplomatic passports to five celebrated creatives has sparked fresh debate, with media personality Nana Aba Anamoah suggesting that actress and TV host Nana Ama McBrown should have been part of the honored group.

Speaking on UTV’s United Showbiz, Nana Aba argued that McBrown’s influence extends far beyond Ghana, particularly within the diaspora, where she is admired by Ghanaians around the world. She stressed that McBrown’s popularity and cultural impact make her a natural choice for such recognition.

Nana Aba also raised concerns about the lack of diversity in the selection. All five recipients—travel vlogger Wode Maya, Grammy-nominated musician Rocky Dawuni, broadcaster Anita Erskine, visual artist Ibrahim Mahama, and entrepreneur Dentaa Amoateng—primarily operate in English. According to her, this risks creating an “elitist” impression, sidelining creatives who use Ghanaian languages in their craft.

She pointed to McBrown’s strong promotion of local languages in media as proof that her inclusion would have brought balance. She even suggested that others, such as singer Wiyaala, would also represent this important sector of Ghana’s creative industry.

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, unveiled the honors on September 17, 2025, during the launch of the Diaspora Summit 2025. Officials said the chosen creatives were recognized for their outstanding efforts in showcasing Ghanaian and African culture on the international stage.

For Nana Aba, however, the conversation remains open: without including figures like McBrown, the list may not fully reflect the diverse ways Ghanaian creatives influence the world.

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