The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced plans to name one of the facilities in its new ministerial block after the late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Ghana’s diplomacy, public service and regional peacebuilding.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during the state funeral of the former Foreign Affairs Minister and former President of the ECOWAS Commission on Friday, July 31.
Delivering a tribute at the funeral, Mr. Ablakwa said the decision was taken in consultation with the management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a lasting memorial to one of Ghana’s most accomplished diplomats.
“In recognition of Victor Gbeho’s remarkable service and contribution to the nation, I, along with the management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have decided to name one of our facilities in our new ministerial block after him to immortalise his memory,” the minister announced.
He described Ambassador Gbeho as a distinguished statesman whose dedication to diplomacy and national service left an enduring legacy both in Ghana and across the West African sub-region.
Mr. Ablakwa noted that Ambassador Gbeho’s influence extended well beyond Ghana’s borders, highlighting his decades of service at the national, regional and international levels.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the late diplomat played a significant role in advancing diplomacy, promoting peacebuilding initiatives and strengthening public administration throughout his career.
He said Ambassador Gbeho exemplified principled leadership and patriotism, demonstrating that public service should be guided by competence, integrity and selfless sacrifice.
He added that although Ambassador Gbeho had passed away, his impact would continue to shape Ghana’s diplomatic service through the institutions he helped build, the diplomats he mentored and the peace initiatives he championed.
Ambassador James Victor Gbeho died on June 14, 2026, at the age of 91, bringing to an end a diplomatic and political career spanning more than six decades.
Born on January 12, 1935, in Keta in the Volta Region, he served as Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2001 under the administration of former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Beyond his ministerial role, Ambassador Gbeho represented the Anlo Constituency in Parliament and later served as Foreign Policy Adviser to the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
