A tragic incident in Saskatoon, Canada, has claimed the life of Alfred Okyere, a 23-year-old Ghanaian student who had relocated to the city just four months ago.
Okyere, originally from Kumasi, Ghana, was pursuing his dreams of a better future as an international student.
Living with his sister in Saskatoon, he recently started a part-time job at DSI Underground Canada, a mining supply company in the city’s north industrial area.
The incident occurred on Monday night, January 20, 2025, when Saskatoon police were called to the DSI Underground facility at around 8 p.m. CST.
According to a statement from police, they discovered a 23-year-old male suffering from stab wounds.
Okyere was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after.
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On January 22, 53-year-old Troy Francis Leclair was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing.
Police have not disclosed details of what led to the incident but confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
The tragic loss has sent shockwaves through Saskatoon’s Ghanaian community, where Okyere was an active member of the Church of Pentecost.
The church serves as a vital support network for many Ghanaians in the area.
Family friend Alexander Osei-Owusu described Okyere as a hardworking and determined individual.
“He was just trying to work hard, like many students, to support his education,” Osei-Owusu said.
In the wake of the tragedy, friends and members of the Ghanaian community have launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist Okyere’s grieving family.
DSI Underground, where the stabbing occurred, has yet to comment on the incident.
Meanwhile, the Saskatoon Police Service continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing.
The devastating news has left Okyere’s family, friends, and the broader community mourning the loss of a young man whose life held so much promise.
