The Ghanaian community in New York has been thrown into mourning following the reported discovery of the body of a 24-year-old Ghanaian, Joseph Owusu, at a dumpsite in the Bronx, about two weeks after he went missing.
Owusu, a member and organist of the Ghana United Methodist Church in the Bronx, was reportedly found among refuse by a scrap collector.
News of his death emerged on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, deepening grief among Ghanaians in the United States, coming days after the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong in the same borough.
Members of Owusu’s church community have remembered him as a dedicated musician whose commitment to serving through music and warm personality endeared him to the congregation.
His death has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and how his body ended up at the dumpsite.
The development comes days after the killing of Frimpong, who was shot dead on October 29, 2026, while on his way to school in the Bronx.
The 15-year-old was reportedly chased before being shot near Crotona Park. He was taken to hospital but later died.
Police were reported to be searching for three teenage suspects, although no arrests had been announced in the initial reports.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the government will work with United States authorities to pursue justice for Frimpong.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also assured the teenager’s family of government support and appropriate consular assistance.
