Ghanaian American Group Demands Answers After 15-Year-Old

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Ghana Diaspora Public Affairs Collective (GHPAC), a U.S.-based Ghanaian diaspora organization advancing civic engagement, public affairs, economic opportunity, and stronger U.S.–Ghana relations, mourns the devastating loss of Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old Ghanaian boy who was fatally shot Thursday morning while on his way to school in the Bronx, New York. GHPAC has issued the following statement:

“Just one year ago, Javits arrived in the United States from Ghana to reunite with his father and begin a new chapter of his life. Like so many Ghanaian immigrant families, his family came together in America with hopes of greater opportunity, security, and a promising future. That future has now been violently taken away.

“What makes this killing particularly disturbing are the emerging reports that Javits had been subjected to repeated bullying and harassment before his death. His father has publicly described incidents reported to school officials, including a recent confrontation that reportedly resulted in the suspension of two students.

“Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts surrounding the shooting raise additional questions about the circumstances of this attack. The available evidence demands careful investigation, including whether Javits was deliberately targeted and whether there is any connection between the reported bullying and his killing.

“A child should never have to fear for his life on the way to school. A child who reports bullying should be protected. And no parent should have to bury a son they brought to this country in search of a better life.

“For generations, the Bronx has been an important destination for Ghanaian immigrants, providing a familiar community where newly arrived families establish themselves, reunite with loved ones, and build their American futures. Javits's death strikes at the heart of that community and raises broader concerns about the experiences and vulnerabilities of immigrant children navigating unfamiliar schools, neighborhoods, and social environments.

“His killing comes amid other deeply troubling acts of violence affecting Ghanaian families in the Bronx. In January, George Ennin, a 53-year-old Ghanaian father, was fatally stabbed while walking to work; prosecutors have charged a suspect in his death. Just days before Javits was killed, a 73-year-old Ghanaian man and his 61-year-old wife were reportedly beaten and robbed at gunpoint while waiting at a Gun Hill Road bus stop. These are separate incidents, and there is no established evidence that they were connected or motivated by the victims' Ghanaian identity. Together, however, they have intensified concerns about safety among Ghanaian families who have built their lives in the Bronx. GHPAC calls on city leaders to engage directly with the community, listen to its concerns, and ensure victims and their families have access to appropriate support.

“GHPAC calls for:

1. A thorough and transparent investigation by the NYPD into Javits's killing, including whether he was specifically targeted and whether prior bullying incidents were connected to the attack.
2. A full accounting from the New York City Department of Education and relevant school authorities of reported bullying, complaints, disciplinary measures, and actions taken to protect Javits before his death.
3. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Congressman Ritchie Torres, and other city officials to meet directly with Ghanaian and African immigrant community leaders and affected families in the Bronx to address growing concerns about potential violence targeting African immigrant communities.
4. Coordinated support for the affected families, including appropriate victim services, assistance navigating the criminal justice process, and culturally responsive family and community support.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Javits's father, Thomas Frimpong, his mother, and the entire Frimpong family. We urge anyone with relevant information to cooperate with law enforcement and ask the public to refrain from speculation or identifying individuals without verified evidence. GHPAC encourages members of the Ghanaian and the broader community to stand in solidarity with the Frimpong family during this devastating time. Those wishing to offer financial support may visit the family's fundraising campaign athttps://gofund.me/02503b61c.

“The Ghanaian American community deserves answers. Javits's family deserves justice. And every Ghanaian child growing up in America deserves to feel safe, protected, and valued. Javits Frimpong was only 15. He had been in America for one year. He deserved a lifetime.”

Issued by
Ghana Diaspora Public Affairs Collective (GHPAC)

www.ghanadiasporapac.org