Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has called for an impartial investigation into the killing of 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong, urging authorities to examine reports that he suffered racial bullying at school before his death.

Mr Smith said the reported bullying raised additional concerns about the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death and must form part of investigations to establish the full facts.

In a condolence message to the bereaved family, the Ambassador stressed the need for a thorough investigation into all aspects of the incident to ensure justice.

“In light of the reported experiences of racial bullying he endured at school, it is imperative that all relevant circumstances be examined carefully and impartially,” he stated.

Javits was fatally shot by unidentified assailants at about 9:20 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2026, in the Bronx, New York, while on his way to school.

Mr Smith said he trusted that the appropriate law enforcement authorities would identify those responsible and ensure they were brought to justice.

“While we must allow the investigative process to establish the truth, we cannot ignore the urgent need to protect our children from bullying, racial discrimination, and violence,” he said.

The Ambassador extended condolences to the teenager’s father, Thomas Frimpong, and the rest of the family, describing the incident as a devastating loss.

He noted that Javits had arrived in the United States barely a year ago after his father took him there in pursuit of better educational opportunities and a brighter future.

Mr Smith said the circumstances made the loss particularly painful, as the teenager’s journey to the United States in search of a better future had ended in tragedy.

“The loss of a young life, full of promise, potential, and dreams for the future, is a tragedy that touches us all,” he stated.

He further described Javits as not only a son to his family but a young Ghanaian whose future mattered to the country.

The Ambassador assured the family of the Ghanaian Embassy’s solidarity, saying they were not alone in their grief.

The message was conveyed on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the government and people of Ghana, and the Ghanaian diplomatic community in the United States.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged government support to the family in its pursuit of justice.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said he had spoken directly with Javits’ father and assured him that the government would pursue the matter.

“We will pursue justice, and we’ll make sure that those who did this do not get away with it,” Mr Ablakwa stated.

The Ministry said Ghana’s Permanent Mission in New York had visited the family to express solidarity and convey the government’s condolences.

It added that it would work with US authorities and provide the family with the necessary legal and consular assistance.

The government has also urged authorities in the Bronx to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that those responsible for the teenager’s killing are brought to justice.

Ghana's US Ambassador Demands Probe into Racial Bullying Linked to 15-Year-Old's Death in New York

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