Ghana has stepped up efforts to seek justice for nationals killed in the United States, securing approval to engage prominent American civil rights lawyer Ben Crump to support the pursuit of accountability in the cases.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the decision in a Facebook post, saying Ghana’s Permanent Mission in New York had been authorised to engage the lawyer at no cost to the Ghanaian taxpayer.
The move follows a series of deaths involving Ghanaian nationals in different parts of the United States, some of which have raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the killings.
Mr Ablakwa said the government was committed to exploring every available legal avenue to ensure that the families of the victims obtain justice.
“Ghana will go every length to secure justice and safeguard the dignity of our dear nationals abroad,” he stated.
Among the cases drawing attention is the killing of 15-year-old Javits Badu-Nkansah Frimpong, who was fatally shot in the Bronx, New York, on October 29, 2026, while reportedly on his way to school.
Following the incident, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the teenager’s death.
Another case involves 24-year-old Joseph Owusu, whose body was discovered inside a large duffel bag abandoned on a pavement in Canarsie, Brooklyn, on October 30, 2026.
Owusu, a resident of the Bronx, had reportedly been missing for about two weeks before his body was found by an individual searching for scrap metal.
Surveillance footage later emerged showing two unidentified persons removing a large black bag from the boot of a white sedan and abandoning it on the pavement before driving away.
The government’s decision also comes amid concerns over the February 12, 2026, killing of 37-year-old Akpene Diamond Tetteh in Savannah, Georgia.
Tetteh, a Ghanaian PhD graduate, was reportedly shot dead just weeks after completing her doctoral studies.
The engagement of Crump is expected to provide additional legal support as Ghana pursues the cases and seeks accountability for the deaths of its citizens.
The government has not yet outlined the specific legal responsibilities or scope of work assigned to the American lawyer.
