A 26-year-old Ghanaian lawyer, Sara Araba Tettey, has died after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest while celebrating Ghana’s 1-0 victory over Panama in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Tettey, an alumna of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Faculty of Law, had only been called to the Ghana Bar earlier this year. She was a legal practitioner at O & A Legal Consult and was among friends watching Ghana’s opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match at Standard Hostel, a private hostel at Bomso near KNUST, when the incident happened.
Witnesses said the young lawyer suddenly collapsed during the celebrations that erupted after Ghana secured a 1-0 win over Panama.
She was quickly transported to the KNUST Hospital, popularly known as Tech Hospital, where health workers reportedly attempted to revive her through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for about 45 minutes. Despite the efforts, she was later pronounced dead.
News of her passing has sparked grief among colleagues, friends and members of the legal profession, especially within the KNUST law community and the Ghana School of Law, where she built strong relationships during her academic and professional journey.
Known affectionately as Araba Tettey, she was remembered by those close to her as a dedicated and talented young lawyer whose career was filled with promise. Her death has left many expressing shock over the loss of a rising legal mind at such an early stage of her profession.
Her remains have since been deposited at the KNUST Medical School mortuary as preparations are made for further arrangements.
The exact circumstances surrounding her death have not yet been officially disclosed by her family or medical authorities.
