Ghana has lost one of its most distinguished diplomats and statesmen, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a former Minister for Foreign Affairs and former President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission.
Family sources confirmed that Ambassador Gbeho died at a hospital on Saturday, June 13, 2026, after a lifetime of dedicated service to Ghana, the West African sub-region, and the international community.
Born on January 12, 1935, in Keta in the Volta Region, Ambassador Gbeho was 91 years old. He celebrated his 91st birthday in January 2026, five months before his passing.
A respected lawyer, diplomat and politician, Ambassador Gbeho served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2001 under the administration of former President Jerry John Rawlings.
He later represented the Anlo Constituency in Parliament from 2001 to 2005 and subsequently served as a foreign policy adviser to the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
Ambassador Gbeho’s diplomatic career spanned several decades, during which he served Ghana in key postings across 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, earning recognition for his contributions to international diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
In 2010, he was unanimously elected President of the ECOWAS Commission, becoming one of the few Ghanaians to occupy the top position within the West African regional bloc. He served until 2012, where he championed regional integration, peacebuilding, and diplomatic cooperation among member states.
Widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most accomplished diplomats, Ambassador Gbeho played a significant role in shaping the country’s foreign policy and strengthening its international relations over several decades.
The veteran diplomat also came from a family deeply associated with national service. He was the son of Philip Gbeho, the renowned composer credited with arranging Ghana’s national anthem, and an uncle of the late celebrated broadcaster Komla Dumor.
Tributes are expected from political leaders, diplomats, former colleagues, and regional institutions in recognition of his immense contributions to Ghana, ECOWAS, and international diplomacy.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced by the family.
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