Ghana opens investigation into questionable death of student in Latvia

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has confirmed that investigations have been initiated to determine the cause of death of Ghanaian student Nana Agyei Ahyia in Latvia, following unresolved and unclear circumstances surrounding his passing.

The move follows persistent calls from the deceased’s family, who formally petitioned the Ministry in August 2025, urging the government, through its foreign affairs mandate, to intervene and pursue clarity on the matter.

Ablakwa has reaffirmed the Ministry’s resolve to keep Ghanaians informed on the progress of the investigations, emphasizing that no one harms a Ghanaian, particularly a student abroad, and gets away with it.

Nana Agyei Ahyia, an undergraduate student in Latvia, passed away in June. His family has consistently maintained that Latvian police authorities have not been forthcoming with details regarding the circumstances of his death. This prompted a formal petition, signed by Nyenejay Nimley on behalf of the family, requesting diplomatic and institutional intervention.

In a statement to the press, the family noted that the cause of death remains unclear, with initial indications reportedly suggesting self-harm, an assertion they have firmly rejected, describing it as premature and unsupported by available evidence.

The family further raised concerns about what they described as institutional lapses in the investigation, including the absence of forensic documentation and the failure to question key individuals linked to the case.

“We were not provided with any photo evidence, forensic reports, or investigative documentation,” the family stated, adding that they have doubts as to whether CCTV footage from the scene was thoroughly reviewed by Latvian authorities.

According to the family, mortuary reports indicate that the deceased was fully clothed and wearing socks, with a noticeable scratch on his forehead but no broken bones, details they argue are inconsistent with claims that he fell from a sixth-floor window.

The petition also references an audio message allegedly sent by the deceased, in which he claimed to have been offered a drink by two Latvian acquaintances, after which he collapsed and was hospitalized.

Medical reports, the family says, confirmed the presence of poisoning. However, the individuals involved were reportedly released by police.

The Foreign Affairs Minister’s response has been welcomed by the family and members of the Ghanaian community in Latvia, who have called for the investigation to be expedited, noting that similar urgency would be expected if a Latvian national had died under comparable circumstances abroad.

Family members further disclosed that petitions have also been submitted to Parliament, alongside appeals for diplomatic and government-level intervention from President John Mahama.

Source: Diplomatic Times