The government of Ghana has opened investigations into the death of a Ghanaian student in Latvia following growing pressure from the family, who have rejected an initial explanation that he died after falling from a building.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the case was being pursued through diplomatic channels after renewed public attention and appeals from relatives demanding a full and transparent inquiry.
The student, identified as Nana Agyei Oduru Ahyia, was an 18-year-old first-year engineering student at Riga Technical University.
He is reported to have enrolled earlier in 2024 and died in June 2025 in the Latvian capital, Riga.
Latvian authorities initially treated the death as the result of a fall from the sixth floor of an apartment building on Baznīcas Street. That account has been strongly disputed by the family, who say the circumstances surrounding his death point to possible foul play.
Relatives have alleged that the student complained of feeling unwell shortly before his death and had shared information suggesting he may have been poisoned after being offered a drink.
They have also raised concerns about how the case was handled in its early stages and whether all relevant leads were properly investigated.
The family has repeatedly petitioned Ghanaian authorities to intervene, citing what they describe as medical findings and unanswered questions surrounding the incident.
The student’s body was later returned to Ghana, but calls for justice have continued.
In a statement this week, Mr Ablakwa said the government had begun formal engagements with Latvian authorities and would keep the public informed as investigations progress.
He described the case as deeply troubling and said Ghana was committed to ensuring that the circumstances of the student’s death were fully established.
It remains unclear whether Latvian investigators have reopened or reclassified the case.
For now, Ghanaian officials say they are seeking clarity on the findings of the initial inquiry and the steps taken since the student’s death, as the family continues to press for accountability.
