Jeremy Baffour Doku, Manchester City’s dynamic winger, has officially formalized his Ghanaian citizenship, receiving his Ghanaian passport from Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa during a recent visit to Ghana.
The 23-year-old Belgium international, born to Ghanaian parents, accepted the passport last week, marking a symbolic milestone in his personal journey to reconnect with his ancestral heritage.
Though Doku remains a Belgian international on the football pitch, this act cements his legal status as a dual citizen, affirming his ties to Ghana outside of football. Minister Ablakwa noted that Doku’s move highlights a broader trend of diasporans reconnecting with their roots.
During his off-season stay, Doku immersed himself in Ghanaian culture, visiting the Cape Coast Slave Castle, a historic site tied to the transatlantic slave trade, and receiving blessings from Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the revered Asantehene, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
These visits reflected a deeper personal mission to embrace his Ghanaian identity, a sentiment he has openly shared in interviews and social media over the years.
Doku’s recognition as a Ghanaian citizen may also inspire other African diaspora athletes to re-engage with their heritage, especially at a time when cultural pride and historical reconnection are gaining momentum across sports and society.
