Ghana's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York has paid a condolence visit to the family of Joseph Owusu, a 24-year-old Ghanaian caregiver who was reportedly killed in the Bronx. The visit, conducted on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, was led by Deputy Permanent Representative Ben Dotsel Malor and Consul-General Anthony El-Adas. They acted on behalf of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who participated by telephone to personally offer his condolences to the bereaved family.
Minister Ablakwa described the news of Owusu's death as deeply troubling, particularly given that it followed the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ghanaian Javits Frimpong in the same New York borough on 29 October 2026. Ablakwa expressed shock and sadness over the tragic news. The minister pledged that the Ghanaian government would engage relevant United States authorities and agencies to ensure that the full circumstances of Owusu's death were properly investigated.
Police have informed the family that an autopsy is currently underway. Family members and those who knew Joseph Owusu described him as a devoted member of his community. He worked as a caregiver supporting persons with disabilities and served as a chorister at his local Methodist church. His family remembers him as a cherished son and brother whose death has left relatives and community members grief-stricken.
Joseph Owusu's brother, Kwadwo, urged law enforcement to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation and called for anyone found responsible to be held accountable. The deaths of Owusu and Frimpong within days of each other in the Bronx have deepened anxiety among Ghanaians living in New York and relatives at home in Ghana, with many calling for swift investigations and accountability from the relevant US authorities.
No official details regarding the circumstances of the incident or a confirmed cause of death had been released at the time of the statement. The Ghanaian government is taking steps to ensure that the circumstances surrounding Owusu's death are thoroughly investigated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working closely with relevant US authorities to secure justice for Owusu and his family.
The visit by Ghana's UN Mission to the family of Joseph Owusu is part of efforts to provide support and ensure that the Ghanaian government is actively engaged in addressing the safety concerns of Ghanaians in New York. The government has expressed its commitment to working with US authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The deaths of young Ghanaians in the US have raised concerns about their safety and well-being. The Ghanaian government is urging calm and has assured the public that it is doing everything possible to secure justice for the victims and their families.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government is engaging relevant US authorities to investigate the death of Joseph Owusu.
- The deaths of Owusu and Frimpong have deepened anxiety among Ghanaians living in New York.
- The government has pledged to work with US authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
