Mahama mourns 15-year-old Javits Frimpong, calls for action on US gun violence
President John Dramani Mahama has called on the United States to address the growing challenge of gun violence following the death of 15-year-old Ghanaian Javits Frimpong.
Speaking during an engagement with the Presidential Press Corps after his return to Ghana, President Mahama expressed concern about the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death, describing it as particularly heartbreaking because of his age and the short time he had spent in the United States.
He said Javits had travelled to the US barely a year ago to join his father before the tragic incident occurred.
The President noted that the exact circumstances leading to Javits’ death remain unclear, although reports have suggested that bullying may have been a factor.
He said the New York Police Department (NYPD) was investigating the incident.
He observed that people experiencing emotional distress may not always show visible signs of their struggles, making it difficult for others to recognise when they need help.
“In the world today, there are so many stress factors of modern living, and so mental health is becoming a major crisis,” he said.
He cited situations where people experiencing stress resort to gun violence against colleagues at workplaces or children in schools.
“I think one of the issues America has to deal with is the level of gun violence in their society,” he added.
Mr Mahama also expressed concern about the recent deaths of other Ghanaians in the United States.
