The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified 32 Ghanaian nationals on its “Worst of the Worst” criminal database, an online platform that publicly lists foreign nationals in the United States with serious criminal records who are facing deportation proceedings.
The database, maintained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), forms part of a broader transparency initiative by the department to provide information on non-citizens arrested for criminal offences across the country. DHS recently added 5,000 new arrests to the platform, bringing the total number of criminal arrests featured on the site to more than 35,000.
According to the database, the Ghanaian nationals named face a range of allegations including homicide, human trafficking, sexual assault, identity theft, drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud, forgery, extortion, domestic violence and weapons offences.
Among the most serious cases is that of Kwabena Adjei, who was arrested in Alden, New York, and is listed with a homicide charge. Paul Dayah, arrested in Houston, Texas, faces charges including sexual assault, drug possession and drug trafficking, while Edmund Agbo, arrested in Conroe, Texas, is listed for assault and human trafficking-related offences.
Several individuals on the list are associated with financial crimes. Joseph Ebu, Regina Asante Henaku, George Owusu Ansah, Emmanuel Lamptey and others face allegations related to identity theft, fraud and the unlawful use of credit cards. Others, including Eric Ahiekpor, Kahad Wuupini and David Mensah, are linked to money laundering investigations.
The DHS database also includes Ghanaians facing drug-related offences. These include Masawudu Gariba, Edward Sarpong, Kofi Owusu, Jeanette Agbemble and Adams Suleman, who are listed in connection with drug trafficking, narcotics sales and possession-related offences.
In a statement, DHS officials said the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to remove individuals with serious criminal histories from the United States. The department noted that immigration enforcement operations are prioritising individuals considered high-risk offenders.
Acting DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said immigration officers continue to focus on apprehending individuals with significant criminal records as part of broader national security and public safety objectives.
The publication of the database has generated debate among immigration advocates and civil rights groups. Critics argue that many individuals in immigration detention centres have not been convicted of serious crimes and that public databases can sometimes create misleading perceptions about immigrant communities.
Data from immigration research organisations indicate that a substantial proportion of individuals held in ICE detention facilities are detained for immigration-related matters rather than violent criminal convictions.
The Following 32 Ghanaian Nationals Appear on the DHS “Worst of the Worst” Database
- Franklin Donkoh (Atlanta, Georgia) – Shoplifting
- Adams Suleman (Miami, Florida) – Cocaine Possession
- Solomon Blay (Newark, New Jersey) – Cruelty Toward Child, Fraud
- Kofi Michael Adae (Chantilly, Virginia) – Damage Property
- Awudu Aidoo (Alden, New York) – Weapon Offence
- Brian Danjuma (Frederick, Maryland) – Domestic Violence
- Joseph Ebu (Louisville, Kentucky) – Fraud, Illegal Use of Credit Cards, Identity Theft
- Regina Asante Henaku (Framingham, Massachusetts) – Larceny, Identity Theft, Fraud
- George Owusu Ansah (Harlingen, Texas) – Identity Theft
- Masawudu Gariba (York, Pennsylvania) – Synthetic Narcotic Sale, Drug Trafficking
- Andrew K A Boateng (Hackensack, New Jersey) – Fraud (Impersonating)
- Iddriss Osman (Snow Hill, Maryland) – Fraud (Illegal Use of Credit Cards)
- Edward Sarpong (Charleston, South Carolina) – Burglary, Synthetic Narcotic Sale
- Paul Dayah (Houston, Texas) – Sex Assault, Drug Possession, Drug Trafficking
- Joseph Amegah (Burlington, Massachusetts) – Assault, Fraud (False Statement)
- Lily Aiphonsis Majdoub (Elk River, Minnesota) – Fraud
- Emmanuel Darko (Saint Clairsville, Ohio) – Possession of Weapon, Fraud, Identity Theft
- Martin Obeng Darko Berchie (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – Sex Offence
- Charles Sokpa-Anku (Sterling, Virginia) – Fraud (Swindle)
- Emmanuel Lamptey (Nashville, Tennessee) – Identity Theft
- Mohammed Mustapha (Saint Louis, Michigan) – Extortion
- Emmanuel Haruna (Laredo, Texas) – Assault, Smuggling Aliens
- Kahad Wuupini (Big Spring, Texas) – Money Laundering
- Kwabena Adjei (Alden, New York) – Homicide
- Edmund Agbo (Conroe, Texas) – Assault, Human Slavery or Trafficking
- Eric Ahiekpor (Allenwood, Pennsylvania) – Fraud by Wire, Fraud, Money Laundering
- Jeanette Agbemble (Houston, Texas) – Dangerous Drugs, Drug Possession
- Abdul Mohammed (Laredo, Texas) – Identity Theft, Counterfeiting
- Albert Nkrumah (Atlanta, Georgia) – Forgery
- Mona Montrage (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) – Fraud
- David Mensah (Loretto, Pennsylvania) – Money Laundering
- Kofi Owusu (Bennettsville, South Carolina) – Drug Trafficking
