Former President John Dramani Mahama is mourning the death of 19-year-old James Lutterodt, a former student of Keta SHS.

Mr Mahama expressed sadness upon hearing about his death and recalled James' outstanding performance alongside his colleagues in the National Science and Maths Quiz in 2021.

Although they didn't win the ultimate prize, Mr Mahama highlighted the joy of watching the trio from Ketasco.

In a Facebook post, he extended condolences to James' parents, family, friends, and schoolmates, assuring them that they are not alone during this difficult time.

Mr Mahama emphasised that James will always hold a special place in their hearts, and his untimely passing at such a young age is truly heartbreaking.

James Lutterodt, along with Francisca Lamini and Bright Senyo Godzo, gained recognition as NSMQ stars when they represented Keta Senior High School (Ketasco) in 2021.

Their brilliance and resilience captivated viewers nationwide during the highly competitive run. While they secured third position that year, they made history as the first students from the Volta Region of Ghana to reach the legendary NSMQ finale.

Prior to his passing, James Lutterodt was an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Computer Science at the University of Ghana (UG), Legon.

Reports indicate that he died due to food poisoning.

His demise occurred just as he was preparing to travel to the USA for further studies.