The body of 18-year-old Ghanaian student Nana Agyei Oduru Ahyia, who died under suspicious circumstances in Latvia, has been returned home to Ghana for burial, amid growing concerns and calls for a full investigation into the events surrounding his death.
Nana Agyei, a promising first-year Electrical Engineering (Adaptronic) student at Riga Technical University, tragically lost his life on June 4, 2025, just months after beginning his studies abroad. According to Latvian authorities, the young student died following a fall from the sixth floor of his apartment building on Baznicas Street in the capital city, Riga.
However, the family of the deceased has strongly rejected the official version of events, insisting that all signs point to foul play. The controversy surrounding his death deepened after a chilling voice note surfaced, reportedly sent by Nana Agyei just three days before the incident, in which he claimed he had been poisoned.
“We received news that he fell from the sixth floor and died. But we said, no, that cannot be true. There’s no way he would commit suicide,” said Sarah Nimli, a family spokesperson, during a press briefing in Accra. “He was full of life, ambitious, and had no reason to take his own life. The voice note changed everything. He clearly feared for his life.”
Nimli revealed that the family immediately took steps to seek the truth. “I wrote letters to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here in Ghana, to his university in Latvia, and reached out to the police in Riga. But the responses were evasive, and the Latvian police appeared unwilling to engage transparently. It felt like a cover-up, especially since those allegedly involved were Latvian nationals,” she stated.
The lack of clear communication and cooperation from Latvian authorities has left the family devastated and suspicious. In an effort to get to the bottom of the matter, the family dispatched a relative to Latvia. That individual was later joined by a representative from the Ghanaian Embassy in Berlin, which has jurisdiction over Latvian diplomatic affairs.
Despite these interventions, the family maintains that they are still in the dark regarding the outcome of any investigations. “The Latvian police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, but we have not received any concrete updates. No official autopsy report, no explanation about how he could have fallen, and no information on the individuals he may have been with,” Nimli said.
The family is now calling on the Government of Ghana to intensify diplomatic pressure on Latvia to ensure justice is served. “We believe our son was murdered. There must be a proper and independent investigation. We want the President, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and the Ghana Police Service to step in fully. We cannot allow this to be swept under the rug,” she urged.
Nana Agyei had enrolled at Riga Technical University in July 2024 and was known to be academically gifted and ambitious. His friends and mentors described him as “full of potential” and “a young man who carried the dreams of his entire family.”
Back home in Ghana, his death has sparked grief and outrage. Several youth groups and student unions have expressed solidarity with the family and joined calls for the government to take action.
“We are heartbroken. This is not just a loss to the family, but to the entire Ghanaian student community,” said Ama Serwaa, a member of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS). “We urge the government to protect Ghanaian students abroad. We cannot continue to lose our youth under suspicious circumstances with no accountability.”
Sources close to the family say Nana Agyei’s remains were only repatriated after several weeks of pressure on Latvian authorities. The family had to bear much of the cost of repatriation, even as they dealt with unanswered questions and perceived silence from both Latvian and Ghanaian officials.
“There was very little support,” Nimli lamented. “We had to push for everything. From retrieving his body to engaging with the embassy. We are grateful to those who stood with us, but we feel let down by the system.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has yet to release an official statement on the matter, but sources within the ministry suggest that diplomatic channels are being used quietly to request further clarity from Latvian officials.
Meanwhile, legal experts and human rights advocates in Ghana are urging the government to consider involving international investigative bodies to guarantee transparency and independence in the case.
“This is a clear situation where the government must act decisively,” said lawyer and activist Kwame Adu-Baah. “If foul play is suspected and there is a voice note claiming the victim was poisoned, it is the responsibility of both Latvia and Ghana to conduct thorough, unbiased investigations. If necessary, INTERPOL or other neutral agencies should be brought in.”
As preparations begin for the final funeral rites of the young Ghanaian, the family continues to mourn, not just his death, but the circumstances and unanswered questions that have trailed it.
“We brought back our son in a casket. All we want now is justice. Nothing can bring him back, but at least let the truth be known,” Nimli concluded emotionally.
The Ghanaian public has also taken to social media to express their condolences and anger. Hashtags like #JusticeForNanaAgyei and #GhanaianLivesMatter have begun trending on X (formerly Twitter), with users demanding accountability and urging the media to continue following the case.
As it stands, the case of Nana Agyei Oduru Ahyia is no longer just a personal tragedy—it has become a national concern. And until justice is served, many believe the calls for answers will only grow louder.
