Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a former Minister for Foreign Affairs and former President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, has died, bringing to an end a distinguished diplomatic and political career that spanned several decades.
The veteran diplomat, aged 91, passed away at a hospital on Saturday, June 13, 2026. However, the cause of his death has not yet been disclosed.
Born on January 12, 1935, in Keta in the Volta Region, Ambassador Gbeho celebrated his 91st birthday earlier this year. His death marks the loss of one of Ghana’s most experienced diplomats, whose influence extended beyond the country’s borders.
Over the course of his public service career, Ambassador Gbeho occupied several high-profile positions, including serving as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs between 1997 and 2001 during the administration of former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Following his tenure as Foreign Affairs Minister, he represented the Anlo Constituency in Parliament from 2001 to 2005. He later served as a foreign policy adviser to the late President John Evans Atta Mills, contributing to the shaping of Ghana’s diplomatic engagements.
His diplomatic service took him to a number of strategic international assignments. He held postings in countries including China, India, Nigeria, Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, where he represented Ghana’s interests and strengthened bilateral relations.
Ambassador Gbeho also served as Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 1980 to 1990 and undertook ambassadorial responsibilities in Geneva and other major diplomatic centres.
In 2010, he was unanimously elected President of the ECOWAS Commission, becoming one of the region’s leading diplomatic figures. During his tenure, which lasted until 2012, he played a key role in advancing regional cooperation and integration within West Africa.
Beyond his public service achievements, Ambassador Gbeho belonged to a family widely recognised for its contributions to Ghana’s national development. He was the son of Philip Gbeho, the celebrated composer credited with arranging Ghana’s national anthem, and the uncle of renowned broadcaster, the late Komla Dumor.
The family is yet to announce details of his funeral and burial arrangements.
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