The Government of Ghana has assured the family of 24-year-old Ghanaian Joseph Owusu, who was found dead under unexplained circumstances in New York, United States, of its support and commitment to ensuring justice is served.
Officials of Ghana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, led by Deputy Permanent Representative Ben Dotsei Malor and Consul-General Anthony El-Aadas, visited the bereaved family on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, to convey the government’s condolences.
The visit was undertaken on the directive of Ghana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Samuel Yao Kumah, following the announcement of Joseph’s death to his mother, Mavis, by the New York City Police Department on Saturday, October 31.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also phoned the family to express his heartfelt condolences and convey the solidarity of President John Dramani Mahama and the government.
Mr Ablakwa said he was shocked and saddened by the development, particularly as it came shortly after the killing of 15-year-old Ghanaian Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong in the Bronx, New York.
He assured the family that the government would stand firmly with them and work with relevant authorities and agencies in the United States to ensure justice is served.
Joseph Owusu worked as a caregiver, supporting persons with disabilities, and also served as a chorister at his local Methodist church.
He is remembered by his family as a beloved son and brother, whose death has left his relatives and community devastated.
His brother, Kwadwo, has called for a thorough and transparent police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and urged authorities to ensure that anyone found responsible is brought to justice.
According to the Permanent Mission, police have informed the family that an autopsy is being conducted on Joseph’s body as investigations into the circumstances of his death continue.
Joseph’s death marks the second reported killing of a Ghanaian in New York within a week, raising concerns among members of the Ghanaian community in the United States.
By: Bernard Mensah
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