Ghana has engaged celebrated American civil rights lawyer Ben Crump to help pursue justice for Ghanaians who have been killed in the United States in recent months. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that approval had been granted to Ghana’s Permanent Mission in New York to engage the high-profile lawyer at no cost to the Ghanaian taxpayer.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the decision in a Facebook post, saying the ministry had held a positive telephone discussion with Crump and thanking him for his willingness to assist. “Ghana will go every length to secure justice and safeguard the dignity of our dear nationals abroad,” the ministry stated, while also acknowledging the cooperation of US authorities.

The cases behind the decision

Among the recent cases is the killing of 15-year-old Javits Badu-Nkansah Frimpong, who was shot in the Bronx, New York, on 29 October 2026, while on his way to school. The teenager had moved from Ghana to the United States about a year earlier to join his father. New York police said three masked individuals chased him before shooting him and fleeing, and investigators have been examining possible motives, including robbery, mistaken identity and bullying.

Another victim was 24-year-old Joseph Owusu, whose body was discovered inside a large duffel bag abandoned on a pavement in Canarsie, Brooklyn, on 30 October. Owusu, who worked as a caregiver supporting people with disabilities and served as a chorister at his local Methodist church, had been missing for about two weeks.

Akpene Diamond Tetteh, 37, was shot dead in Savannah, Georgia, on 12 February 2026. She was pursuing a doctorate in health policy and had substantial experience in the pharmaceutical industry. A juvenile suspect was arrested and charged with murder, while the family has told Ghanaian authorities that a second alleged attacker remains at large. Dr Kofi Akamani was also reported killed in Murphysboro, Illinois, on 19 September 2026.

What happens next

Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, has separately disclosed that five Ghanaians had died under different circumstances since he assumed his ambassadorial role, with most of the cases reportedly involving guns. Crump is known for representing families in high-profile cases involving deaths, civil rights violations and allegations of police misconduct in the United States, and the engagement is expected to strengthen Ghana’s efforts to pursue the cases and support the families seeking answers and accountability.