The family of 18-year-old Nana Agyei, a promising Ghanaian student who traveled to Latvia to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering, is calling for a thorough investigation into his sudden death, which they believe was not a suicide as officially reported. Agyei’s parents allege that their son was a victim of racism, poisoning, and foul play during his short time abroad.
According to Agyei’s family, the young man had been in Latvia for just seven months when he began reporting incidents of racial discrimination and mistreatment from peers. “He told us he was being targeted and treated badly,” his father recounted in a statement shared with local media. The parents advised him to complete his upcoming exams and return home to Ghana, where they could discuss his options together.
The situation escalated dramatically shortly after. In a voice note sent to his family, Agyei described how a group of classmates approached him, expressing disagreement with how others were treating him and offering friendship. They exchanged phone numbers, and the same group later visited him at his residence. During the visit, they offered him a drink, after which Agyei began feeling severely unwell.
Rushing to a nearby hospital, Agyei was diagnosed with poisoning. He received treatment and was discharged. Before leaving the hospital, he reportedly shared the names of the individuals who had given him the drink with his mother via a phone call. Alarmed by the incident, his parents immediately booked a flight for him to return to Ghana the following week.
However, communication with Agyei abruptly ceased a few days later. “Our calls were no longer going through. He stopped answering his phone,” his father said. “We became extremely worried.” When someone finally picked up one of the calls, it was a Latvian police officer on the line. The officer delivered the devastating news: Nana Agyei was dead.
Agyei’s father flew to Latvia without delay to identify and repatriate his son’s body. Upon viewing it, he was shocked to find it covered in bruises. Latvian authorities informed the family that Agyei had died after jumping from the top floor of a building. “This explanation does not add up,” the father stated emphatically. “We do not believe this story. The bruises and the previous poisoning incident suggest something far more sinister.”
The family has since been vocal about their suspicions, pointing to the timeline of events—from the reports of racism to the alleged poisoning and the unexplained bruises—as evidence of foul play. Agyei’s mother, who has been leading the call for justice, emphasized the need for an independent investigation. “Our son was only 18. He had his whole life ahead of him, studying to become an electrical engineer. We want answers and accountability for those responsible,” she said.
Ghanaian authorities have been notified, and the family is working with local advocacy groups to pressure Latvian officials for a re-examination of the case. No official response from Latvian police or the university has been made public at this time. The incident has sparked discussions on social media about the safety of international students, particularly those from African countries, studying in Europe.
As the family mourns, they continue to seek support from the public and international organizations to uncover the truth behind Nana Agyei’s tragic death. “This is not just about our son,” his father added. “It’s about ensuring no other family goes through this nightmare.”