Approval has been granted to Ghana’s Permanent Mission in New York to engage the services of celebrated US civil rights lawyer, Ben Crump, at no cost to the Ghanaian taxpayer, to assist Ghana in security justice for all Ghanaians killed in the US in recent months, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, “Ghana will go every length to secure justice and safeguard the dignity of our dear nationals abroad.”
Mr Ablakwa disclosed that he has had a “positive telephone discussion on this all-important matter.”
“We equally acknowledge the cooperation and commitment of US authorities in our collective quest for justice.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decision in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
The move follows growing concerns over several deaths involving Ghanaian nationals in different parts of the country.
Among the cases that have raised concern is the killing of 15-year-old Ghanaian, Javits Badu-Nkansah Frimpong, who was shot dead in the Bronx, New York, on October 29, 2026, while walking to school.
In another case, the body of 24-year-old Ghanaian, Joseph Owusu, was found inside a body bag in Canarsie, Brooklyn, on October 30, 2026, after he had reportedly been missing for about two weeks.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death were ongoing, with authorities yet to establish a confirmed cause of death, according to available reports.
Other reported cases include the shooting to death of 37-year-old Akpene Diamond Tetteh in Savannah, Georgia, in February 2026, and the death of Dr Kofi Akamani in Murphysboro, Illinois, in September 2026.
Ghana's Ambassador to the United States, Mr Victor Smith, has separately disclosed that five Ghanaians had died under different circumstances since he assumed office, with firearms reportedly involved in most of the cases.
Who is Ben Crump
Ben Crump is known for representing victims and families in high-profile cases in the US involving civil rights violations, police misconduct and wrongful deaths.
He has also been associated with the campaign for justice following the killing of Javits Frimpong.
