Javits’ killing: ‘Condolences are not a policy. Justice is’ – Minority demands sustained US cooperation

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on the government to sustain its engagement with United States authorities to ensure justice for Javits, the Ghanaian teenager who was killed in the US. He said the government must go beyond expressing condolences to the bereaved family and take practical steps to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, November 3, during the first day of sitting, Mr Afenyo-Markin acknowledged efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ghana’s Permanent Mission in New York to engage the family but insisted that more needed to be done. He said the government must maintain cooperation with American authorities until the case is brought before the courts. “ What we owe this boy. We acknowledge that the Foreign Ministry has spoken. We know that our Permanent Mission in New York has visited the family. “That is right and proper and we, the Minority, acknowledge that. But condolences are not a policy. Justice is and must be,” he said. Mr Afenyo-Markin urged the government not to allow public attention surrounding the case to fade, warning that sustained diplomatic engagement would be necessary to ensure accountability. “So we make this demand as a Minority of the government. Do not let the cameras leave and the case go cold. Sustain your cooperation with American authorities not for a week but until the proper responsible stand before a court to face justice,” he told Parliament. He further called for the assignment of a dedicated government official to work directly with the New York Police Department and prosecutors in the Bronx to follow developments in the case. The Minority Leader also urged the government to provide practical support to the bereaved family, including legal and consular assistance. He said the government should also assist with arrangements to bring Javits’ body to Ghana for burial, should the family wish to do so. Mr Afenyo-Markin called on the Foreign Ministry to provide regular updates to Parliament on the progress of the case to ensure that the matter remains a national priority. “Assign a dedicated officer to work with the New York Police and the Bronx prosecutors. Stand with the family in practical ways. Legal help, consular help, help to bring Javits home for burial if they wish and report back to this House so that the nation knows where the case stands,” he said. He stressed that the government must remain committed to the pursuit of justice for the teenager and ensure that the circumstances surrounding his death are fully addressed.