Ghana honors former foreign minister James Victor Gbeho with state funeral

Former Ghanaian foreign affairs minister James Victor Gbeho, who died at age 91 on 12 June 2026, was given a state funeral at the State House in Accra. The ceremony was led by former President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku‑Agyemang, and was attended by senior government officials, members of Parliament, diplomats, representatives of ECOWAS and the United Nations, and family members.

Mahama praised Gbeho as a “giant of our time,” noting his five‑decade diplomatic career, his tenure as Ghana’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN (1980‑1990), and his service as President of the ECOWAS Commission. The Foreign Affairs Ministry announced it will name a facility in its new block after Gbeho to honour his contributions to Ghana’s foreign policy and regional integration. Gbeho was also the son of Philip Gbeho, composer of Ghana’s national anthem.