Ghana has lost one of its most distinguished diplomats and statesmen following the death of former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho.
Family sources confirmed that Ambassador Gbeho died at a hospital on Saturday, June 13, 2026, after a lifetime of service to Ghana, the West African sub-region and the international community.
According to a report by adomonline.com on June 14, 2026, the veteran diplomat passed away five months after celebrating his 91st birthday in January 2026.
Born on January 12, 1935, in Keta in the Volta Region, Ambassador Gbeho built an illustrious career as a lawyer, diplomat and politician, serving in several high-profile roles both at home and abroad.
He served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2001 under the administration of former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Following his tenure as Foreign Minister, he represented the Anlo Constituency in Parliament from 2001 to 2005 and later served as a foreign policy adviser to the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
His diplomatic career spanned several decades, during which he held key assignments in China, India, Nigeria, Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
He also served as Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 1980 to 1990.
Ambassador Gbeho further distinguished himself on the regional stage when he was unanimously elected President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission in 2010.
He served in that role until 2012, earning praise for his efforts to deepen regional integration and strengthen diplomacy across West Africa.
Beyond his public service, Ambassador Gbeho hailed from a family renowned for its contributions to national development.
He was the son of Philip Gbeho, the celebrated composer credited with arranging Ghana’s national anthem, and an uncle of the late broadcaster Komla Dumor.
The family is yet to announce details of his funeral arrangements.
