Ablakwa in Latvia for talks over Ghanaian student death

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has arrived in Latvia for a two-day official visit to pursue justice over the death of Ghanaian student Nana Agyei Ahyia.

Mr Ablakwa announced his arrival in Riga on Monday, saying the visit was prompted by what he described as “distressing and unclear circumstances” surrounding the death of the 18-year-old Ghanaian student.

“I thank the Foreign Minister of Latvia, Her Excellency Baiba Braže, for the warm reception and for the productive bilateral engagements earlier today,” the minister said in a post on X.

He explained that the primary purpose of the visit was to seek clarity and accountability over Nana Agyei’s death, stressing that this was a commitment he made to Ghanaians.

According to him, the Latvian government has given firm assurances of cooperation.

“The Latvian Foreign Minister has conveyed firm assurances to me that her government will fully cooperate with Ghana in the pursuit of truth and justice,” Mr Ablakwa stated.

The minister disclosed that he is leading a six-member delegation made up of senior directors from the Foreign Ministry, a forensic expert and a pathologist.

Two family members of the late student, who were expected to be part of the delegation, were unable to travel initially due to visa delays.

“Unfortunately, due to visa processing delays, the two members of Nana Agyei’s family which I invited to join my delegation could not travel with us on Saturday night,” he said, adding that their visas had now been issued and they were expected to arrive in Riga on Tuesday.

Mr Ablakwa also addressed allegations circulating on social media about extortion and fake tickets, dismissing them as baseless.

“There has been no case of extortion or the issuance of fake tickets as has been alleged without any evidentiary basis whatsoever,” he said, clarifying that all members of the delegation were fully funded by the ministry.

The visit follows an earlier announcement last month in which the minister said Latvian authorities had agreed to receive a Ghanaian delegation in Riga on January 20, 2026, as investigations continue.

“On the matter of ongoing investigations and justice for Nana Agyei, I can confirm that the Latvian Foreign Ministry has officially responded to my request,” he wrote at the time.

Nana Agyei Oduru Ahyia, a first-year Electrical Engineering (Adaptronic) student at Riga Technical University, died in June 2025.

His family has consistently questioned the official account that he fell from the sixth floor of his apartment.

“We received news that he fell from the sixth floor and died. But we said, no, that cannot be true,” family spokesperson Sarah Nimli said. “There’s no way he would commit suicide.”

Mr Ablakwa said further engagements are scheduled with Latvia’s Interior and Education ministries, as well as investigators handling the case, as Ghana’s Foreign Ministry remains “focused and resolute in safeguarding the welfare and dignity of all Ghanaians.”