Ghana will officially be represented at the funeral of the late Professor Jason Atta Kwei Arday, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has confirmed, as the country prepares to pay its final respects to one of the most celebrated academics of Ghanaian heritage.
Ablakwa announced the decision on Friday, September 4, after personally speaking with Prof. Arday’s mother, Mrs. Gifty Arday, to express condolences following the devastating loss of her son.
The Foreign Affairs Minister revealed that President John Dramani Mahama had also personally signed a letter of condolence to the Arday family. The letter is being delivered through Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Ablakwa described the late professor as a tremendous source of pride and inspiration not only to Ghanaians but also to people around the world.
Most significantly, the minister assured the grieving family that Ghana would not be absent when the respected academic is finally laid to rest.
“Ghana will be present at his funeral to pay our respects,” Ablakwa stated in his message.
Prof. Jason Arday, who was born in Britain to Ghanaian parents, made history when he became the youngest Black professor appointed at the University of Cambridge. His extraordinary journey and academic achievements made him an inspirational figure, particularly for young Black students aspiring to break barriers in higher education.
The 41-year-old professor died on August 14, 2026, after being found unresponsive at his home in Battersea, south London. Authorities initially described his death as unexpected but not suspicious, while an inquest has since been opened. No official cause of death has yet been established.
As tributes continue pouring in, Ghana’s decision to attend his funeral sends a powerful message that Prof. Arday’s achievements were deeply appreciated in his ancestral homeland.
His passing may have brought an extraordinary academic journey to a heartbreaking end, but his historic accomplishments will remain part of his legacy.
And when Prof. Jason Arday is finally laid to rest, Ghana has made it clear: the nation will be there to say its final goodbye.
