Ghanaian rap icon Sarkodie has joined the many voices mourning the tragic death of 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager, Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong, who was fatally shot in the Bronx, New York.
Javits, who moved from Ghana to the United States just a year ago to live with his father, 60-year-old taxi driver Thomas Frimpong, was shot in the abdomen at about 9:30am on Thursday, October 29, 2026, near East 171st Street in the Claremont area. He was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital but did not survive.
Reacting to the news in a post shared on Saturday, October 31, Sarkodie expressed deep sorrow and used the incident to reflect on values, parenting and the Ghanaian upbringing.
According to the rapper, despite Ghana’s challenges, the moral upbringing of children remains a pride of the country, even in rough neighbourhoods.
“We might have our difficulties here in Africa, especially in Ghana, but one thing I will always pride myself on is how we were brought up as children, even in rough and tough neighbourhoods,” he wrote.
He noted that murder cases are rare and treated with utmost seriousness in Ghana, where each case shocks the nation and dominates media discussions, unlike in some parts of the West where it has become almost regular.
“Murder is a big deal out here. It’s almost alien to us because whenever something like that happens, it becomes major news. We report and discuss almost every single case in the media, and as a people, we are always shocked and saddened by it. But it seems to have become an almost regular occurrence in some parts of the West, which makes it scary for my people to feel safe out there.”
Sarkodie further directed a message to Black families living abroad, urging them to pay more attention to raising children with the right values.
“I honestly don’t know what kind of upbringing shapes children to become so evil. I think some of my fellow Black brothers and sisters out there need to do better when it comes to raising their children and instilling the right values in them.”
He ended his message with a tribute to the late teenager and a condolence to the family.
“It’s very unfortunate that we had to lose Javits this way. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Sending love, prayers and strength to the family, especially his mum and dad.”
Javits’ death has sparked widespread outrage both in Ghana and among the Ghanaian community in the US, with many calling for justice.
