Public debate has intensified following the death of Nana Agyei Ahyia, a Ghanaian student at Riga Technical University in Latvia, buh the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says several claims fueling the outrage are inaccurate.
In a statement issued on February 2, 2026, the Ministry addressed a viral social media video in which a woman identifying herself as the deceased’s sister accused government officials of misconduct. Among the allegations were claims that the family had been asked to pay money, that officials travelled to Latvia without relatives, and that the deceased’s mother had been given a fake airline ticket.
The Ministry dismissed these accusations as false and misleading, insisting that it has maintained regular contact with the family since the incident. It stressed that neither the Ministry nor any official acting on its behalf demanded or received money from the family at any stage of the process.
According to the statement, the government assumed full responsibility for facilitating the travel of two nominated family members and a pathologist to Latvia as part of efforts to support investigations into the student’s death.
The Ministry explained that plans for the family’s travel, originally scheduled for January 31, 2026, could not proceed due to visa-related challenges. It revealed that the delay was partly caused by the applicants’ failure to submit all required documents during their initial visa appointments.
Once the outstanding documents were received, the Ministry said it promptly forwarded them to the relevant embassy to continue the visa process. It added that the deceased’s mother had been informed on both Friday and Saturday that the journey could not go ahead because the visas had not yet been issued and the passports were still with the embassy.
Despite these updates, the Ministry noted that the mother later went to the airport in the company of bloggers, stating that she was seeking evidence. The Ministry clarified, however, that the document in her possession was not a confirmed airline ticket.
It explained that the document was merely an itinerary generated solely to support the visa application process and that the mother had been clearly informed of this fact before her visit to the airport.
Warning against the spread of misinformation, the Ministry described the circulation of distorted claims as deeply regrettable, especially given the sensitivity of the case.
Nana Agyei Ahyia’s death has drawn widespread public attention, sparking calls for transparency and accountability both online and offline. As investigations continue, the Ministry says it remains engaged with relevant institutions in Latvia to establish the full circumstances surrounding his death.
Reaffirming its position, the Ministry said it is committed to protecting the welfare of Ghanaians abroad and to pursuing justice for the late Nana Agyei Ahyia, urging the public to rely on verified information and allow diplomatic processes to run their course.
