Accra, Ghana, November 1, 2026: The Government of Ghana will cover the full travel expenses of Doris Adu Gyamfi, mother of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong, to enable her to travel to the United States for her son's funeral following his fatal shooting in New York.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the government's commitment on Saturday, October 31, saying the Mahama administration was also prepared to contribute towards a dignified funeral for the teenager.
The announcement followed an intervention by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who spoke with US President Donald Trump about the mother's need to travel from Ghana to say goodbye to her son.
Mamdani subsequently announced that Trump had agreed to grant her a visa immediately.
In a post on X, the mayor described the killing as a tragedy no parent should have to endure, particularly from thousands of miles away.
Welcoming the intervention, Ablakwa said he had spoken with Madam Adu Gyamfi on Friday and assigned officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist her with the visa application process.
He said the government would meet the full cost of her travel and remained committed to working with relevant authorities to secure justice for Javits.
Teenager killed on his way to school
Javits was fatally shot on Thursday, October 29, while walking to school in the Bronx, New York. He was 15 years old.
The teenager had moved from Ghana to the United States approximately a year earlier to live with his father, Thomas Frimpong, and continue his education.
According to reports from the United States, he was shot in the abdomen shortly before 9:30 a.m. and was taken to St Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
His father told reporters that Javits had experienced bullying at school and that the school's principal had informed him that two students had been suspended following complaints.
However, investigators have not established a connection between the reported bullying and the fatal shooting.
Police were searching for three teenage suspects, with no arrests reported at the time of publication.
Ghana calls for justice
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier assured the family that Ghana would work with US authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and accountability.
In a statement issued on October 30, the Ministry said Ghanaian officials in New York had visited the family to express condolences and offer support.
Ablakwa also spoke with the boy's father, conveying condolences on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and assuring him of the government's commitment to pursuing justice.
The Ministry said it would provide appropriate legal and consular assistance to the family while engaging relevant US authorities.
The government's latest commitment to fund the mother's journey ensures that she can travel to mourn her son in person, as the investigation into his killing continues.
