Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has joined the growing list of public figures reacting to the killing of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong, expressing sadness over his death and calling for better parenting and values among young people.

In a post on social media, the musician said that despite the difficulties facing Ghana and the rest of Africa, he takes pride in how children are raised there, even in rough and tough 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 said murder is treated as a major event in Ghana, with every case widely discussed and met with shock.

"Murder is a big deal out here. It’s almost alien to us because whenever something like that happens, it becomes major news. We announce and discuss almost every single case in the media, and as a people, we are always shocked and saddened by it," he said.

According to Sarkodie, killings appear to have become a regular occurrence in some parts of the West, which makes it frightening for Ghanaians to feel safe there.

"But it seems to have become an almost regular thing in some parts of the West, which makes it scary for my people to feel safe out there," he stated.

He also questioned what kind of upbringing leads young people to commit such acts, and urged parents to take more responsibility.

"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 wrote.

The rapper then paid tribute to the late teenager and his 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. My deepest condolences," he said.

Javits Frimpong moved from Ghana to the United States a year before his death to join his father, Thomas Frimpong, a 60-year-old taxi driver. He was shot once just before 9.30am on Thursday, October 29, 2026, near East 171st Street in the Claremont area of the Bronx, and died in hospital. He was a student at DreamYard Preparatory School.

See the post below:

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.

Murder is a big deal out here. It’s almost alien to us because whenever something like that happens, it becomes major news. We announce 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 thing in some parts of the West, which makes it scary for my people to feel safe out there.

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.

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.

My deepest condolences. ❤️

— Sarkodie (@sarkodie) October 31, 2026