By; Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
The Government of Ghana will cover the full travel costs for Madam Doris Adu Gyamfi to travel to New York following the fatal shooting of her 15-year-old son, Javits Frimpong. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the state funding on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
The announcement followed diplomatic coordination between New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and US President Donald Trump to secure an emergency visa for the bereaved mother.
Mayor Mamdani disclosed on Saturday that President Trump agreed during a telephone conversation to grant the immediate visa. Officials from the Mahama administration stated that diplomats assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are actively assisting Madam Gyamfi with her visa application. Ghanaian officials expect her arrival in the United States in the coming days as farewell arrangements move forward.
Diplomatic Interventions Secure Emergency Visa Approval
The effort to reunite Madam Gyamfi with her family in New York required swift communication between city and federal officials in the United States. Mayor Mamdani emphasized the human urgency of allowing a mother to say goodbye in person when publicizing his conversation with the White House.
“The murder of a child is a pain no parent should have to endure, let alone from thousands of miles away. Javits Frimpong’s mother deserves to say goodbye to her son in person. I just got off the phone with President Trump and he has agreed to grant her visa immediately. All of New York City is mourning this tragedy,” Mayor Mamdani stated.
The mayor did not specify the type of visa to be issued or the specific arrangements for its processing.
Minister Ablakwa welcomed the intervention and thanked both leaders for their rapid response.
“This is most appreciated, @NYCMayor. The Government of Ghana welcomes your intervention and President Trump’s timely decision. We have always known we can count on our own Kwame Mamdani,” Minister Ablakwa wrote.
Minister Ablakwa spoke directly with Madam Gyamfi on Friday to extend condolences. He described her grief as unimaginable and confirmed that the Mahama administration will also contribute toward a dignified funeral for Javits.
Fatal Shooting in the Bronx Triggers Police Investigation
Javits Frimpong died on Thursday, October 29, 2026, after suffering a gunshot wound to the abdomen in the Claremont neighborhood of the Bronx. Responding police officers transported the 10th-grade student from the scene to St. Barnabas Hospital, where medical staff pronounced him dead. The teenager was walking to DreamYard Preparatory School shortly before 9:30 a.m. when the shooting occurred.
The New York Police Department is investigating the homicide and searching for up to three male suspects believed to be teenagers. Authorities have not publicly identified the suspects or announced any arrests.
Family Points to School Bullying as Authorities Seek Motive
Javits moved from Ghana to the United States about a year earlier, in 2025, to join his father, Thomas Frimpong, a yellow cab driver in New York. His father stated that Javits had repeatedly complained about being bullied at school. Mr. Frimpong noted that the school principal had previously informed him about two students who allegedly harassed his son and were subsequently suspended.
While Mr. Frimpong suspects a connection between the alleged bullying and the fatal attack, law enforcement officers have not confirmed a link. Police have not publicly established a motive for the shooting.
Mr. Frimpong appealed directly to those responsible to surrender.
“I will tell them to give themselves to the police. I don’t think they are going to go free for killing an innocent child,” Mr. Frimpong said.
Ghanaian Officials Demand Justice for Slain Teenager
The killing has drawn widespread grief and calls for answers across Ghana and within the New York diaspora community. Officials from Ghana’s Permanent Mission in New York visited the family home to offer support, while Minister Ablakwa contacted Mr. Frimpong directly to offer condolences.
Ghanaian officials pledged to press for a full accounting of the tragedy.
“We will pursue justice, and we will make sure that those who did this do not get away with it,” Minister Ablakwa said.
Minister Ablakwa reinforced this commitment in a public statement.
“We resolve to continue to work together in securing justice for Javits,” Minister Ablakwa stated.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, also called for a thorough and impartial investigation that examines the reports of bullying.
As New York detectives continue to analyze evidence and search for the suspects, the combined efforts of municipal, national, and international officials ensure that Madam Gyamfi can join her family in mourning. The case remains open, with both Ghanaian and American authorities committed to pursuing full legal accountability while honoring the memory of the young student.
Read the Government of Ghana’s statement below on the tragic killing of Javits Frimpong in the Bronx, New York.
