The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied allegations made by a woman claiming to be the sister of 18-year-old Nana Agyei Ahyia, a Ghanaian student who died while studying at Riga Technical University in Latvia. The woman alleged in a widely circulated video that Nana Agyei’s mother was required to pay for travel arrangements with the Ghanaian diplomatic delegation sent on a fact-finding mission to Latvia.
The Ministry emphasized that these claims are false and misleading, and clarified that the Ghanaian government has been in constant contact with the family to ensure the participation of two nominated family members alongside a pathologist in the fact-finding mission. According to the Ministry, the family was never asked to make any payment, and the government covered all travel arrangements.
“The Ministry wishes to categorically reject and correct the false, misleading and unfounded assertions contained in the said video, in which a woman purporting to be a sister of the deceased alleges, among other things, that the deceased’s mother was required to make payments to facilitate her travel, that government officials travelled to Latvia without any family member, and that a fake airline ticket was issued to the deceased’s mother,” the Ministry stated.
The Ministry explained that delays in travel were due to visa issuance by the Latvian authorities and incomplete documentation provided by the family, not because of any demand for payment. Travel for the family members was initially scheduled for 31 January 2026 but could not proceed as planned. Once the missing documents were submitted, the Ministry promptly facilitated their processing.
“At no time has the Ministry, or any government official acting on its behalf, demanded or received any form of payment from the family. For the avoidance of doubt, the Government of Ghana is fully bearing the cost of all travel arrangements,” the statement added, emphasizing transparency in the process.
The Ministry also addressed claims about the airline ticket, clarifying that the document provided to Nana Agyei’s mother was an itinerary generated to support the visa application process, not a confirmed ticket for travel. The Ministry maintained that the mother was formally informed that travel could not proceed because her passport remained in the custody of the Embassy.
Contrastingly, in the video, the sister claimed that her mother was misled about the ticket and prevented from traveling. She stated that the family was told to go to Kotoka International Airport to join the delegation, only to discover that the ticket presented was allegedly fake. “Sir, Nana Ejie’s mommy was told yesterday that she should come to the airport, Kotoka International Airport, together with the delegates so that they will go to Latvia,” the sister said.
The sister also alleged that government appointees who were not part of the family traveled to Latvia without including the mother or family representatives. She raised concerns about fairness and transparency, questioning why family members were excluded from a mission meant to investigate the death of a loved one.
“In our presence, we saw the delegates almost getting to 18 people, government appointees, who are not even Nana Agyei’s family members who are going to Latvia. But why would you go and get justice for somebody and the family of the boy is not present?” she said.
She further claimed that the mother was asked to pay nearly 2,000 Ghana cedis during the visa process and suggested that her payment had been futile. The sister expressed outrage over what she described as the mistreatment of her mother at the airport. “Even during the visa process, they told Nana Ejie’s mother to pay almost more than 2,000 Ghana cedis. Honorable Foreign Affairs Minister, if they say they are giving justice to somebody, is the person asked to pay for the justice?”
The Ministry firmly rejected these assertions, describing them as deliberate distortions of fact that mislead the public and undermine trust in state institutions. They stressed that all interactions with the family have been transparent and aimed at facilitating justice for Nana Agyei.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to the protection and welfare of Ghanaians abroad and to pursuing justice for Nana Agyei Ahyia. It confirmed ongoing engagement with the relevant authorities to secure the outstanding visas for the family members, ensuring that they are able to participate in the fact-finding mission.
The death of Nana Agyei has drawn public attention not only to the tragic loss of a young Ghanaian abroad, but also to broader concerns about the welfare and protection of students studying internationally.
Nana Agyei’s death, first reported in June 2025, has itself been a source of controversy. Latvian authorities initially said he died after reportedly falling from the sixth floor of his apartment building in Riga. However, his family has raised serious questions about the official account, rejecting suggestions of suicide or accidental fall and insisting that the full circumstances of his death be thoroughly investigated.
His remains were repatriated to Ghana in July 2025, where family members and supporters have repeatedly called for transparency and justice. Latvian authorities have agreed to meet with a Ghanaian delegation as part of ongoing efforts to seek clarity and accountability in the case, following sustained diplomatic engagement by the Ghanaian government.
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