Former Foreign Affairs Minister James Victor Gbeho dies at 91
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former President of the ECOWAS Commission, has died at the age of 91. Family sources confirmed his passing on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at a hospital. Born on January 12, 1935, in Keta, Volta Region, Ambassador Gbeho had a career as a lawyer, diplomat, and politician. He served as Ghana鈥檚 Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2001 under former President Jerry John Rawlings. Following this, he represented the Anlo Constituency in Parliament from 2001 to 2005 and later advised former President John Evans Atta Mills on foreign policy. His diplomatic career included key assignments in China, India, Nigeria, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, and he was Ghana鈥檚 Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 1980 to 1990. He was elected President of the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS Commission in 2010, serving until 2012. Ambassador Gbeho was the son of Philip Gbeho, who arranged Ghana鈥檚 national anthem, and an uncle of the late broadcaster Komla Dumor. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced by the family.
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Chiefs and residents of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area in Ghana's Western Region have petitioned the Presidency, urging the government to maintain the revocation of Adamus Resources Limited's mining lease. The petition, signed by HRM Awulae Blay IX, King and Overlord, accuses Adamus of insufficient engagement with traditional authorities and host communities, and failing to respect community dignity, protect the environment, and safeguard livelihoods. The traditional council performed rites with ram and schnapps after the Minerals Commission revoked Adamus' license, signifying a spiritual and non-negotiable end to ties with the company. They warn that reinstating the lease without proper consultations could undermine trust in mining regulation and risk conflict. While not against responsible mining, the chiefs insist any future operations must be transparent, environmentally responsible, and fair to host communities through proper compensation and local participation. Copies of the petition were sent to various government officials, including the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and the CEO of the Minerals Commission.
The Adentan High Court in Accra has invalidated a directive from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission GTEC that sought to disallow qualifications from the Universidad Empresarial de Costa Rica UNEM for academic and professional use in Ghana. Justice Kwame Gyamfi ruled the directive unlawful and prohibited GTEC from enforcing it against affected degree holders. The directive, issued on November 5, 2025, had instructed public tertiary institutions not to recognize UNEM qualifications for teaching, appointments, or promotions. A group of university academics and professionals, represented by lawyer Solomon Faakye, brought the case, arguing that GTEC acted unlawfully by retrospectively invalidating previously recognized qualifications and failed to follow proper legal procedures. They also contended that the directive violated principles of natural justice, fairness, legitimate expectation, and administrative legality. The court found that GTEC, as a statutory body, must operate within its legal authority and determined that the directive and its issuance process were legally flawed. The court declared the directive invalid and of no legal effect, stating that qualifications obtained before the directive remain valid and cannot be retrospectively invalidated. It also ordered the reversal of any adverse decisions made by tertiary institutions based on the directive. This ruling is anticipated to significantly impact universities, public institutions, and regulatory bodies invol
Must ReadSome South Africans have demonstrated, calling for the reopening of foreign-owned businesses that closed following attacks on foreign nationals. A viral video shows protesters expressing concern over job losses, stating that many factories and workshops are foreign-owned and their closure leaves local workers unemployed. One protester highlighted that South Africans often lack specific industry experience, such as in garment manufacturing, and demand high salaries, making it difficult for businesses to rely solely on local labor. The protests coincide with Ghana's ongoing evacuation of its citizens from South Africa, with over 700 Ghanaians having returned. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, assured returnees that the government would seek compensation for lost businesses and properties and announced that approximately 200 jobs had been secured for them through Ghanaian entrepreneurs and corporate institutions, including pledges from businessman Ibrahim Mahama, AirtelTigo, and Telecel Ghana.