Foreign Affairs Ministry pledges support to family of Ghanaian PhD graduate killed in US

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured the family of 37-year-old Ghanaian Akpene Diamond Tetteh that the government will support their efforts to secure justice following her murder in the United States.

The assurance was given by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister James Gyakye Quayson when the family, led by their legal representative, Chris Ackummey, met him on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

In a Facebook post, the Ministry said the engagement focused on the circumstances surrounding Tetteh’s death and possible steps to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

The family told the Deputy Minister that Tetteh was shot dead by 2 juveniles, both aged 15, in Georgia on February 12, 2026, just weeks after completing her PhD.

One of the suspects was arrested and brought before a court in Savannah, Georgia, on March 3, 2026. His trial is ongoing, but the second suspect remains at large.

Quayson expressed concern over the killing and assured the family that the Ministry would provide assistance within its mandate while exploring other avenues through which the government could support their pursuit of justice.

He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to safeguarding the welfare and security of Ghanaians living outside the country.

Tetteh was reportedly shot in broad daylight in early February. Authorities said officers who responded to the incident at about 2:30 p.m. found her lying in the street with life-threatening injuries. She was later pronounced dead.

The family's engagement with the Ministry comes days after another Ghanaian, 15-year-old Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong, was fatally shot while walking to school in the Bronx, New York, on October 29, 2026.