The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded its “Worst of the Worst” criminal aliens’ database, adding 12 more Ghanaians and bringing the total number of Ghanaian nationals on the list to 44.
With 44 nationals now listed, Ghana has the third-highest representation among West African countries on the database, which now contains 427 individuals from the sub-region.
Nigeria tops the list with 134 nationals, followed by Liberia with 111 and Ghana with 44.
The remaining breakdown is as follows: Cape Verde, 26; Senegal, 22; Côte d’Ivoire, 15; The Gambia, 15; Mauritania, 12; Burkina Faso, 10; Niger, 10; Sierra Leone, nine; Togo, seven; Guinea, six; Mali, five; Guinea-Bissau, one; and Benin, one.
The database is a public transparency initiative maintained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It identifies foreign nationals living in the United States who have serious criminal records and are subject to immigration enforcement, including possible deportation.
DHS uses the description “worst of the worst” for individuals included in the database, which focuses on non-citizens convicted of offences and facing immigration enforcement proceedings.
The offences recorded vary widely and include fraud, identity theft, money laundering, robbery, drug-related offences, sexual crimes and immigration violations.
Among the newly added Ghanaian nationals is Success Bounte, who was arrested in Newark, New Jersey. His profile links him to allegations of identity theft, robbery, burglary and credit card fraud, and notes an alleged association with the West Side Rolling 60s gang.
Also listed is Charles Amofa, arrested in Hagerstown, Maryland, in connection with kidnapping charges, while Kofi Osei, arrested in Hopewell, Virginia, is facing allegations including wire fraud, false statement fraud and money laundering.
Others include Daniel Jackson-Caternor, arrested in Baltimore, Maryland, over drug-related offences; George Hayford, arrested in Orlando, Florida, in connection with fraud allegations; Eric Amoah, arrested in Dumfries, Virginia, over alleged immigration document fraud and money laundering; and Gifty Kusi, arrested in Westerville, Ohio, over fraud-related charges.
ICE Enforcement
The expansion comes as the United States continues to intensify immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump.
DHS figures indicate that ICE arrested 478 Ghanaian nationals in 2025. By October 2025, about 2,470 Ghanaians were reportedly being held in US detention centres awaiting deportation, among the highest numbers recorded for Ghana.
Data further shows that 312 Ghanaians were deported to Accra between January and August 2025, representing a 17 percent increase over the corresponding period in 2024.
The rise in arrests and deportations has been linked to tougher enforcement policies, including the Global Enforcement Initiative introduced in April 2025 and a February 2025 executive order that prioritised the removal of people with criminal convictions or those deemed to pose national security risks.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke