President John Dramani Mahama has expressed deep worry over the alarming rate of gun violence and the ease of acquiring firearms in the United States, following the tragic deaths of two Ghanaian nationals in New York.
Addressing journalists during a meet-the-press session at the Jubilee House on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the President stated that the unfortunate incidents underscore critical underlying issues surrounding societal violence and mental health challenges in America.
The President’s remarks follow two separate tragedies in New York involving young Ghanaians: 15-year-old Javits Frimpong, who was shot dead in the Bronx, and 24-year-old caregiver Joseph Owusu, whose body was discovered near a dump site after going missing for a fortnight.
Touching on the fatal shooting of teenager Frimpong, President Mahama noted that preliminary reports linked the attack to bullying, though official investigations by local law enforcement remain ongoing.
“Some ascribe it to bullying, but of course the NYPD is investigating it. But two things the American people have to reckon with are the violent nature of their society, especially gun violence,” he said.
He questioned the legal framework governing weapons in the US, explaining that constitutional provisions have made firearm ownership far too easy for the general public.
“It is part of the amendments in their constitution that give citizens the right to bear arms. So, anybody can go to a gun shop to buy one,” he said.
President Mahama further highlighted how mental health pressures in contemporary life exacerbate the situation, warning that individuals going through severe emotional stress often mask their struggles until violence erupts.
“In the world today, there are so many stress factors of modern living, so mental health is becoming a major crisis. Sometimes, someone is stressed, but he is well dressed, and you will think that everything is okay. The day you realise that something is wrong, they may have guns shooting people,” he said.
Maintaining his position, the Ghanaian leader insisted that curbing gun-related crimes remains an urgent matter the American government must address.
“So, one of the issues America has to deal with is the level of gun violence in their society,” President Mahama added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
