International student killed 1 week into part-time job in Saskatoon, says friend

A family friend says homicide victim 23-year-old Alfred Okyere came to Saskatoon from Ghana four months ago as an international student with plans to build a better life.

Alexander Osei-Owusu said Okyere lived with a sister and took a part-time job earlier this month at DSI Underground Canada, a mining supply company with a sprawling shop in the city's north industrial area.

"As many students these days, everybody is trying to find work here and there to get something, to support the education," Osei-Owusu said.

• 1st Saskatoon homicide of 2025 involves co-workers at mining supply company

Osei-Owusu said Okyere was stabbed by a co-worker on Monday night.

In a news release, police said they were called to the facility at 8 p.m. CST.

"Upon arrival, Police located a 23-year-old male victim suffering from stab wounds," the release said.

"He was transported to hospital where he was pronounced deceased."

WATCH | Sister of Ghanaian man killed 1 week into new job in Canada speaks: 

Sister of Ghanaian man killed 1 week into new job in Canada speaks

8 hours ago

Duration 2:21

Alfred Okyere came to Saskatoon from Ghana in September 2024. He was killed at the part-time job he had been working at for a week.

Troy Francis Leclair, 53, appeared in provincial court Wednesday morning charged with first-degree murder.

Okyere was born in Kumasi, Ghana. Osei-Owusu said Okyere was an active member of the Church of Pentecost in Saskatoon, "a big church for the Ghana community."

Friends have set up a GoFundMe campaign for his family.

Police did not release Okyere's name or the name of the business. They declined to speak to what happened that night, saying it's an ongoing investigation.

DSI Underground did not respond to an interview request from CBC.