Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has paid glowing tribute to the late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, describing him as a distinguished Ghanaian diplomat and statesman whose lifetime of service elevated Ghana’s standing in the international community.
In a heartfelt message following the late diplomat’s State Funeral on Friday, July 31, the Deputy Minister said Ambassador Gbeho’s remarkable contributions to Ghana’s Foreign Service and global diplomacy would remain an enduring source of inspiration for generations of public servants.
“The venerable Victor Gbeho, a proud son of Ghana, was yesterday accorded a State Funeral befitting his immense contributions to Ghana’s foreign service and international standing,” Mr. Genfi wrote.
He noted that Ambassador Gbeho hailed from one of Ghana’s most distinguished families, being the son of Philip Gbeho, the celebrated composer of Ghana’s National Anthem.
“He belonged to a distinguished lineage, being the son of Philip Gbeho, composer of our National Anthem. His life of service as diplomat and statesman was a reflection of the same devotion to country that his father enshrined in music,” the Deputy Minister stated.
Mr. Genfi further prayed that Ghana’s current and future leaders would emulate the late diplomat’s exemplary patriotism.
“May God guide our generation of leadership to serve with the same level of commitment and selflessness,” he added.
Ambassador James Victor Gbeho died on June 13, 2026, following a short illness at the age of 91. His family subsequently opened a book of condolence before announcing funeral arrangements, with the Government of Ghana later according him a State Funeral in recognition of his decades of distinguished public service. The funeral was held at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra on July 31, followed by a private interment.
Born on January 12, 1935, in Keta in the Volta Region, Ambassador Gbeho built one of the most illustrious diplomatic careers in Ghana’s history. Trained as a lawyer, he joined Ghana’s Foreign Service and served in several diplomatic missions, including postings in China, India, Nigeria, Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. He also served as Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York and Geneva, where he earned international recognition for his diplomatic acumen.
His career extended beyond diplomacy into national politics. Under the administration of former President Jerry John Rawlings, he served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2001, after which he represented the people of Anlo as Member of Parliament between 2001 and 2005. He later became Foreign Policy Adviser to the late President John Evans Atta Mills. On the regional stage, he reached the pinnacle of West African diplomacy when he was unanimously elected President of the ECOWAS Commission in 2010, where he championed regional integration, peace and cooperation across the sub-region.
Beyond his impressive professional accomplishments, Ambassador Gbeho came from a family deeply woven into Ghana’s national history. His father, Philip Gbeho, composed and arranged Ghana’s National Anthem, while the late broadcaster Komla Dumor was his nephew, underscoring a family legacy of distinguished national service.
The State Funeral drew senior government officials, diplomats, traditional leaders, family members and dignitaries, all of whom gathered to honour a man widely regarded as one of Ghana’s finest diplomats and a steadfast advocate for peace, regional cooperation and international dialogue.
Source: Purefmonlinegh.com || Evans Osei-Bonsu || 2026
